Somalia - Country Watch

Transcription

Somalia
2016 Country Review
http://www.countrywatch.com
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
1
Country Overview
1
Country Overview
2
Key Data
5
Somalia
6
Africa
7
Chapter 2
9
Political Overview
9
History
10
Political Conditions
12
Political Risk Index
87
Political Stability
101
Freedom Rankings
116
Human Rights
128
Government Functions
131
Government Structure
134
Principal Government Officials
142
Leader Biography
143
Leader Biography
143
Foreign Relations
146
National Security
176
Defense Forces
181
Appendix: Somaliland
182
Chapter 3
186
Economic Overview
186
Economic Overview
187
Nominal GDP and Components
189
Population and GDP Per Capita
191
Real GDP and Inflation
192
Government Spending and Taxation
193
Money Supply, Interest Rates and Unemployment
194
Foreign Trade and the Exchange Rate
195
Data in US Dollars
196
Energy Consumption and Production Standard Units
197
Energy Consumption and Production QUADS
198
World Energy Price Summary
199
CO2 Emissions
200
Agriculture Consumption and Production
201
World Agriculture Pricing Summary
203
Metals Consumption and Production
204
World Metals Pricing Summary
206
Economic Performance Index
207
Chapter 4
219
Investment Overview
219
Foreign Investment Climate
220
Foreign Investment Index
222
Corruption Perceptions Index
236
Competitiveness Ranking
247
Taxation
256
Stock Market
256
Partner Links
256
Chapter 5
258
Social Overview
258
People
259
Human Development Index
261
Life Satisfaction Index
264
Happy Planet Index
276
Status of Women
285
Global Gender Gap Index
288
Culture and Arts
297
Etiquette
298
Travel Information
298
Diseases/Health Data
309
Chapter 6
315
Environmental Overview
315
Environmental Issues
316
Environmental Policy
317
Greenhouse Gas Ranking
318
Global Environmental Snapshot
329
Global Environmental Concepts
341
International Environmental Agreements and Associations
355
Appendices
Bibliography
379
380
Somalia
Chapter 1
Country Overview
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Somalia
Country Overview
SOMALIA
Somalia is located in Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, east of
Ethiopia. It comprises Italy's former Trust Territory of Somalia and the former British Protectorate
of Somaliland. In 1960, British Somaliland and Italian Somalia joined to form an independent
Somalia. In 1961, Somalia adopted its first national constitution in a countrywide referendum,
which provided for a democratic state with a parliamentary form of government based on
European models. In 1969, a coup headed by Mohamed Siad Barre ushered in an authoritarian
socialist rule, bringing an abrupt end to the process of constitutional democracy in Somalia. In
1991, President Siad Barre was overthrown by opposing clans who failed to agree on a
replacement and plunged the country into lawlessness and clan warfare.
It should be noted that Somalia has had no real central government since 1991. Indeed, Somalia
has lacked any internationally-recognized central government since the fall of the Siad Barre regime
in 1991. In recent years, despite the establishment of a fragile transitional government, the country
has been controlled by various political and regional factions, as well as local warlords and Islamic
militias.
In its heydey, this Islamic militia held sway in the early 2000s in Somalia, but was and driven from
the Somali capital of Mogadishu in 2006 following an intervention by Ethiopian troops into Somali
territory on behalf of the weak transitional government of Somalia. Since that time, resurgent alShabab Islamists have been launching a violent insurgency. A ceasefire pact between the Somali
government and al-Shabab in 2008 had little positive effect since some factions did not sign onto
the deal.
In 2010, al-Shabab -- which was at that point was allied with the notorious terror enclave al-Qaida
-- was carrying out a violent offensive aimed at overthrowing the government, and even carrying
out terrorist acts outside national borders. Indeed, al-Shabab was responsible for two deadly
bombings in Uganda in July 2010, thus indicating an increasingly jihadist orientation, in which
attacks do not stop at the national borders. Further, al-Shabab was suspected of being behind a
number of violent attacks, killings, and kidnappings in Kenya around the same period in
retaliation for Kenya's involvement in the African Union mission in Somalia.
In August 2011, al-Shabab forces were said to be withdrawing from the capital city of Mogadishu;
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however, that exit did not augur an end to violence and terrorism as exemplified by the October
2011 attack on the Mogadishu government compound. That being said, an offensive by Somali
government forces, aided by African Union troops and incursions from neighboring Kenyan and
Ethiopian troops, placed hitherto unknown pressure on al-Shabab.
In 2012, al-Shabab announced it was officially joining al-Qaida, and effectively formalized its
identity as a standpoint Islamist terror group in the strategic Horn of Africa. The group then
continued its brutal assault in Somalia, attacking a high level national delegation as recently as the
spring of 2012, and carrying out attacks in Mogadishu 2013.
In 2013, al-Shabab burnished its terrorist Jihadist credentials by carrying out a brazen and brutal
assault on the Westgate shopping mall in the Kenyan capital city of Nairobi, killing dozens of
victims. Al-Shabab proudly claimed responsibility for the shocking rampage of horror and
bloodshed and promised that the Westgate massacre was just the "opening act" in campaign that
was intended to go on and on, as the militant Islamist terror group sought to punish Kenya for its
involvement in the regional military operation against al-Shabab. Indeed, al-Shabab was intent on
extending its reach and carrying out retaliatory attacks on Kenya because of its military
involvement in Somalia as part of the African Union mission.
In September 2014, the United States carried out air strikes in Somalia targeting the leader of alShabab, Ahmed Abdi Godane. The operation used both manned and unmanned aircraft to strike
an encampment and a convoy of vehicles to the south of Mogadishu, successfully eliminating
Godane. But even the death of Godane did not bring an end to al-Shabab's brutality and
barbarism.
In late 2014, al-Shabab remained active with the terror group's Jihadist inclinations manifest fully
in the form of continuing attacks that targeted Kenya. Most of the 2014 attacks occured in towns
close to the border with Somalia and appeared to target non-Muslims, with Christians being the
favored target for death.
In early 2015, al-Shabab was extending its Jihadist ambitions with a call for supporters to carry out
terror attacks at popular shopping malls in the West. In fact, al-Shabab was urging sympathizers
and allies to launch mall attacks reminiscent of its own Westgate massacre in Kenya to be carried
out in Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom. But before such an end could take
place, in the spring of 2015, Kenya was targeted again by al-Shabab, with more than 145 people
dying Garissa University at the hands of al-Shabab terrorists. While Kenya vowed a strong
response, it was apparent that al-Shabab continued to function and to carry out brutal terror crossborder attacks with relative impunity, even declaring a "long and gruesome" war against Kenya.
From the start of the insurgency in 2007, although no official figures are available, estimates
suggest that tens of thousands have died and hundreds of thousands have been made homeless by
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the fighting in Mogadishu. As people have been forced to flee their homes in search of safety,
there are now as many as one million people are internal refugees in Somalia. With the state of
lawlessness increasing in Somalia, a dire security situation plaguing the country, and the mass scale
of population displacement, the United Nations warned that half the entire Somali population has
been in need of humanitarian aid since the second half of 2008. In more recent years, the
situation can be characterized as both a political and human crisis, manifested most expressly by a
crippling famine and drought crisis.
It should be noted that amidst this state of insecurity, Somalia in recent years has advanced a
political transition plan, and as of 2015 appeared to have made strides as regards the functionality
of the government.
It should also be noted that, as chaos reigns supreme in the heartland of Somalia, there are also
two "republics" in the north. The former British colony of Somaliland---consisting of five districts
in the northwest---declared independence in 1991, and the northeastern region---known as
Puntland---declared autonomy in 1998. Neither is recognized as a sovereign independent state.
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Key Data
Key Data
Region:
Africa
Population:
10616380
Climate:
Principally desert; December to February- northeast monsoon, moderate
temperatures in north and very hot in south; May to October- southwest
monsoon, torrid in the north and hot in the south, irregular rainfall, hot and
humid periods (tangambili) between monsoons.
Languages:
Somali (official)
Arabic
Italian
English
Currency:
1 Somali shilling (So. Sh.$) = 100 cents
Holiday:
Revolution Anniversary 21-22 October (1969), Republic Day is 26 June
(1960)
Area Total:
637660
Area Land:
627340
Coast Line:
3025
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Somalia
Country Map
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Somalia
Africa
Regional Map
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Somalia
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Chapter 2
Political Overview
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History
Somalia's modern history began in the late 19th century, when various European powers began to
trade and establish themselves in the area. The British East India Company's desire for unrestricted
harbor facilities led to the conclusion of treaties with the sultan of Tajura as early as 1840. It was
not until 1886, however, that the British gained control over northern Somalia through treaties with
various Somali chiefs who were guaranteed British protection. British objectives centered on
safeguarding trade links to the east and securing local sources of food and provisions. The
boundary between Ethiopia and British Somaliland was established in 1897 through treaty
negotiations between British negotiators and King Menelik.
During the first two decades of the 20th century, British rule was challenged through persistent
attacks led by the Islamic nationalist leader Mohamed Abdullah. A long series of intermittent
engagements and truces ended in 1920 when British warplanes bombed Abdullah's stronghold at
Taleex. Although Abdullah was defeated as much by rival Somali factions as by British forces, he
was lauded as a popular hero and stands as a major figure of Somali national identity.
In 1885, Italy obtained commercial advantages in the area from the sultan of Zanzibar and in 1889
concluded agreements with the sultans of Obbia and Caluula, who placed their territories under
Italy's protection. Between 1897 and 1908, Italy made agreements with the Ethiopians and the
British that marked out the boundaries of Italian Somaliland. The Italian government assumed
direct administration. Italy kept Somaliland a protectorate in terms of official status, although in all
but name the territory functioned as a colony.
Italian occupation gradually extended inland. In 1924, the Jubaland Province of Kenya, including
the town and port of Kismayo, was ceded to Italy by the United Kingdom. The subjugation and
occupation of the independent sultanates of Obbia and Mijertein, begun in 1925, were completed
in 1927. In the late 1920s, Italian and Somali influence expanded into the Ogaden region of eastern
Ethiopia. Continuing incursions climaxed in 1935 when Italian forces launched an offensive that led
to the capture of Addis Ababa and the Italian annexation of Ethiopia in 1936.
Following Italy's declaration of war on the United Kingdom in June 1940, Italian troops overran
British Somaliland and drove out the British garrison. In 1941, British forces began operations
against the Italian East African Empire and quickly brought the greater part of Italian Somaliland
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under British control. From 1941 to 1950, while Somalia was under British military administration,
transition toward self-government began through the establishment of local courts, planning
committees, and the Protectorate Advisory Council. In 1948 Britain turned the Ogaden and
neighboring Somali territories over to Ethiopia.
In Article 23 of the 1947 peace treaty, Italy renounced all rights and titles to Italian Somaliland. In
accordance with treaty stipulations, on Sept. 15, 1948, the Four Powers referred the question of
disposal of former Italian colonies to the U.N. General Assembly. On Nov. 21, 1949, the General
Assembly adopted a resolution recommending that Italian Somaliland be placed under an
international trusteeship system for 10 years, with Italy as the administering authority, followed by
independence for Italian Somaliland. In 1959, at the request of the Somali government, the U.N.
General Assembly advanced the date of independence from Dec. 2 to July 1, 1960.
Meanwhile, rapid progress toward self-government was being made in British Somaliland.
Elections for the Legislative Assembly were held in February 1960, and one of the first acts of the
new legislature was to request that the United Kingdom grant the area independence so that it
could be united with Italian Somaliland when the latter became independent. The protectorate
became independent on June 26, 1960. Five days later, on July 1, it joined Italian Somaliland to
form the Somali Republic. This marked the first time "greater Somalia" came into existence.
In June 1961, Somalia adopted its first national constitution in a countrywide referendum, which
provided for a democratic state with a parliamentary form of government based on European
models. During the early post-independence period, political parties reflected clan loyalties and
brought a basic split between the regional interests of the former British-controlled north and the
Italian-controlled south. There also was substantial conflict between pro-Arab, pan-Somali militants
intent on national unification with the Somali-inhabited territories in Ethiopia and Kenya and the
"modernists," who wished to give priority to economic and social development and improving
relations with other African countries.
Under the leadership of Mohamed Ibrahim Egal, prime minister from 1967 to 1969, Somalia
greatly improved its relations with Kenya and Ethiopia.
A Note on Somali Warfare:
Somalia has seen little peace in recent history. A violent conflict erupted between Somalia and
Ethiopia in 1950 and was not resolved until 1961. Only a year later, a territorial war with Ethiopia
re-ignited, lasting until early 1964. Parallel to this, Somalia was fighting a territorial war with Kenya
between 1963 and 1967. A third war with Ethiopia over ethnic and religious autonomy erupted in
late 1964. A fourth war with Ethiopia, over international power and relationships, erupted in 1976,
lasting until 1978. Siad Barre managed to keep the peace with the help of an iron first and United
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States (U.S.) funding, but when the U.S. funding stopped in 1988, Somalia entered into a
tremendous civil war. Since 1991 the country has been suffering from significant factional fighting
in diverse parts of the country. Notably, both Somaliland and Puntland have formed their own
governments and seceded, the latter achieving a fragile peace.
The United Nations-United States intervention in Somalia was a watershed event in the
formulation of Western policy towards Africa. As pointed out by scholars Walter Clarke and
Jeffrey Herbst, the public outcry in the U.S. following the death of 18 U.S. soldiers in Somalia in
1992 led to the refusal of the Clinton administration to get involved in Rwanda in 1994. As a result
of the experience in Somalia, the U.S. has emphasized the need to maintain neutrality at all costs
so as not to become embroiled in another civil war. This has been evidenced again and again in
Ethiopia-Eritrea, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi and Sierra Leone and elsewhere
in Africa.
Note on History: In certain entries, open source content from the State Department Background
Notes and Country Guides have been used. A full listing of sources is available in the
Bibliography.
Background: Somalia under Gen. Mohamed Siad Barre
The process of party-based constitutional democracy in Somalia came to an abrupt end on Oct.
21, 1969, when the army and police, led by Maj. Gen. Mohamed Siad Barre, seized power in a
bloodless coup.
Following the coup, executive and legislative power was vested in the 20-member Supreme
Revolutionary Council (SRC), headed by Maj. Gen. Siad Barre as president. The SRC pursued a
course of "scientific socialism" that reflected both ideological and economic dependence on the
Soviet Union. The government instituted a national security service, centralized control over
information, and initiated a number of grassroots development projects. Perhaps the most
impressive success was a crash program that introduced orthography for the Somali language and
brought literacy to a large percentage of the population.
The SRC became increasingly radical in foreign affairs and in 1974 Somalia and the Soviet Union
concluded a treaty of friendship and cooperation. As early as 1972, tensions began increasing along
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the Somali-Ethiopian border. In the mid-1970s, the Western Somali Liberation Front, or WSLF,
began guerrilla operations in the Ogaden region of Ethiopia. Fighting increased, and in July 1977,
the Somali National Army (SNA), crossed into the Ogaden to support the insurgents. The SNA
moved quickly toward Harer, Jijiga and Dire Dawa, the principal cities of the region.
Subsequently, the Soviet Union, Somalia's most important source of arms, embargoed weapons
shipments to Somalia. The Soviets switched their full support to Ethiopia, with massive infusions
of Soviet arms and 10,000-15,000 Cuban troops. In November 1977, President Siad expelled all
Soviet advisers and abrogated the friendship agreement with the U.S.S.R. In March 1978, Somali
forces retreated into Somalia; to date the WSLF continues to carry out sporadic but greatly
reduced guerrilla activity in the Ogaden region.
Following the 1977 Ogaden War, President Siad looked to the West for international support,
military equipment and economic aid. The United States and other Western countries traditionally
were reluctant to provide arms because of the Somali government's support for insurgency in
Ethiopia. In 1978, the United States reopened the U.S. Agency for International Development
mission in Somalia. Two years later, an agreement was made that gave U.S. forces access to
military facilities in Somalia. In the summer of 1982, Ethiopian forces invaded Somalia along the
central border, and the United States provided two emergency airlifts to help Somalia defend its
territorial integrity.
From 1982 to 1990 the United States viewed Somalia as a partner in defense. Somali officers of
the National Armed Forces were trained in U.S. military schools in civilian as well as military
subjects. Within Somalia, Siad Barre's regime became increasingly a victim of insurgencies in the
northeast and northwest, whose aim was to overthrow his government. By 1988, Siad Barre was
openly at war with sectors of his nation. At the president's order, aircraft from the Somali National
Air Force bombed the cities in the northwest province, attacking civilian as well as insurgent
targets. The warfare in the northwest sped up the decay already evident elsewhere in the republic.
Economic crisis, brought on amid the spiral of insurgent and anti-insurgency campaigns, caused
further hardship, while Siad Barre and his cronies looted the national treasury.
By 1990, little remained of the Somali Republic. The insurgency in the northwest was largely
successful. Most notably, the United Somali Congress (USC) of Gen. Aideed succeeded at
dislodging government troops from Mogadishu. The army dissolved into competing armed groups
loyal to former commanders or to clan-tribal leaders. The economy was in shambles, and hundreds
of thousands of Somalis fled their homes. In 1991, Siad Barre and forces loyal to him fled the
capital and he died in exile in Nigeria.
The Collapse of Peace
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Since 1991 when the military regime of Siad Barre was ousted, Somalia has been a country
ensconced in chaos and civil war, fragmented by warlords. This chaotic situation has led to the loss
of thousands of lives and an estimated two million Somalis have been displaced either by seeking
refugee across borders or within Somalia.
In 1992, Gen. Aideed formed the Somali National Alliance, the NSA, together with four other
factions. It was the first inter-clan and inter-factional political alliance and the SNA initially
controlled most of southern Somalia. Aideed was a skilled strategist, but his army survived on
looting. Food aid destined for famine areas in the south was continually looted at the port of
Mogadishu. Former United States (U.S.) President George Bush responded later that year by
launching Operation Restore Hope. Led by the Unified Task Force, or UNITAF, the operation was
designed to create an environment in which assistance could be delivered to Somalis suffering from
the effects of dual catastrophes-one man-made and one natural. UNITAF was followed by a
United Nations operation.
Aideed saw the peacekeepers, and the U.S. specifically, as a threat to his power. He labeled the
peacekeepers as the enemy. In June 1993, after a series of petty skirmishes, Aideed sought to oust
the peacekeepers by killing 23 Pakistani soldiers of the United Nations (U.N.) contingent force.
U.S. Admiral Jonathan Howe responded by ordering the arrest of Aideed and committing U.S.
troops to this mission. In addition, Howe put a price on Aideed's head in an effort to elicit support
from rival clans. This was a mistake. Howe evidently was unaware of how volatile the ground was
in Mogadishu and how well-entrenched Aideed had become. By early 1994 more than 100
peacekeepers including 18 U.S soldiers were dead and two U.S. helicopter gunship had been shot
down. The U.S. pulled its troops out of Somalia shortly thereafter.
The second effect of Howe's decision was to give the appearance that Aideed had successfully
defeated both the United States military and the U.N. Aideed became a hero in the eyes of his
supporters. He held a conference of all the clans and leveraged his new popularity to create a
national interim government. In practice, however, Aideed controlled only a small portion of
Somalia. Ultimately, rival clan leaders killed Aideed. His son, Hussein Mohamed Aideed,
succeeded him. Ironically, the younger Aideed spent most of his life in California and served in the
U.S. Marines.
By 1998, a tenuous peace had been established. In February 1998, however, the fragile peace
achieved in the Sodere Conference failed. Hussein Mohamed Aideed and the Rahawein Resistance
Army, or RRA, clashed in the regions of Baidoa and Huddor. A follow-up conference to the one
held in December 1997, originally scheduled for March 1998, was postponed several times over
the ensuing months. Ali Mahdi Mohamed officially declared the peace accord to be dead in midMarch 1998, due to Aideed's refusal to give up control of the Baidoa region. Soon after this
declaration, more fighting broke out, on the Kenyan border between two other factions, and
between two others in the south.
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Shortly later, Hussein Mohamed Aideed, Ali Mahdi Mohamed, and Osman Hassan Ali Atto met to
attempt to re-initiate the peace process. The three faction leaders met in Kenya in April to attempt
to establish a transitional government. They met several times over the following months while
various other factions continued fighting in all corners of the country and declaring self-rule.
In May 1998, several clans in the northeastern part of Somalia agreed to establish a joint
administration for an autonomous region. The proposed name of the autonomous region was
Puntland. Col. Abdullah Yussuf Ahmed was announced as president of Puntland in July. Leaders
of the Somali Salvation Democratic Front, Gen. Mohamed Absher Muse and Abdullah Boqor
Muse, denounced the move. Since July 1998, Puntland developed a charter, which outlined a
structure of government and a constitutional commission.
In early August 1998, Aideed and Ali Mahdi announced they had agreed on the establishment of a
joint administration of Mogadishu. Osman Atto denounced the plan because he claimed that it was
not representative for all factions, even though he was named a deputy chairman. In November,
Libya announced that it would donate $800,000 to fund the administration and the establishment
of a police force, which was deployed in February 1999.
The United Nations envoy to Somalia visited Mogadishu in February and was shown that services
had been developed, including a courthouse, prison and hospital. Usage of the seaport had been
negotiated with the faction controlling the port. At the end of April, Ali Mahdi reported that the
joint administration was going poorly due to financial problems. Moreover, an internal power
struggle may have been at work -- as evidenced by an assassination attempt on Aideed in March.
Regionalism and Factionalism
In May 1999, the self-proclaimed Republic of Somaliland announced plans for the implementation
of a multiparty system of government. Somaliland had declared itself a republic in 1991 following
the overthrow of Barre. The republic introduced Islamic Shari'ah law in November 1998. At the
time of the announcement, Somaliland had begun the registration of political parties but did not
allow parties based on religious or clan affiliation.
In December 1998, Aideed and Ali Mahdi met in Libya with the leaders of Puntland to discuss
plans for peace. No significant developments were reported. In March 1999, fighting broke out in
Mogadishu between militias and forces employed by merchants. The faction led by Musa Sudi
Yalahow attempted to levy taxes on merchants traveling to the marketplace after claiming to end
banditry on the road. The merchants hired their own militia to avoid paying the tax. More than 40
people were killed in the first few days of the conflict.
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In June 1999, Aideed's forces lost to the Rahanwein Resistance Army in the town of Baido in
southeastern Somalia. Aideed accused the RRA of being backed by the Ethiopian army and
claimed that they took the town in the belief that an Ethiopian rebel base was located there. The
BBC reported that arms shipments into the Mogadishu port intended for Aideed were sent from
Eritrea. It was also reported that Aideed's supporters retreated from factions moving in from the
west that were allegedly backed by Ethiopia. Ethiopia denied all of the allegations. Throughout
1999, factional fighting continued across the country. Over the years, different clans who felt that
they were alienated from, or denied access to state power, have subjected the search for peace in
Somalia to criticism and opposition, sometimes violently.
Undoubtedly, it is for these reasons that various parties decided to seek a solution through
constitutional means. In this regard, the convening of peace conference in neighboring Djibouti was
a welcome effort although disagreements persisted.
The Arta Peace Conference
At the April-July 2000 Peace Conference in Arta in the country of Djibouti resulted in an
agreement about the parameters of a transitional government. The Somali Support Committee, or
SSC, declared that all clans and regions of Somalia were fully engaged and participated in the
Somali National Peace Conference under an environment that was free and fair. Further, they
stated that although warlords dominated all previous conferences, this conference was attended by
clan elders, women, intellectuals and members of civil society.
The Challenges of the New Government
One of the outcomes of the Arta Peace Conference in Djibouti was the election of Abdiqasim
Salad Hassan, Siad Barre's former interior minister, as president, by an interim-National Assembly
on Aug. 25, 2000. He defeated his closet rival, Abdullahi Ahmed Addow by 145 votes to 92. The
National Assembly comprises 245 members appointed by clan chiefs. Since the Arta Conference,
there have been some steps taken towards creating a central administration in Somalia. The elected
president Abdulkasssim Salat Hassan returned to Mogadishu in September and on Oct. 8, 2000,
named Ali Khalif Galayadh as prime minister. On Oct. 14, 2000, Galayadh named an interim
government with 76 ministers drawn from different clans. Additionally, the Transitional National
Assembly held its inaugural session in Mogadishu on Nov. 2, 2000. All in all, both the TNG and
the TNA were given three years to prepare a new era for Somalia including constitution and
institutions of governance.
Throughout 2001 the government of Abdiqasim Salad Hassan fought to maintain not only his
position and the regime, but the validity of the institutions of the state itself. As the year ended, the
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state appeared highly tenuous. Somalia faced no greater challenge than the strengthening and
acceptance of the central state of Somalia itself.
On Nov. 12, 2001, President Abdulkassim Salat Hassan of the Transitional National Government
appointed Hassan Abshir Farah as the Prime Minister of Somalia. Farah's appointment was a result
of the sacking of Ali Khalif in October 2001 in a no-confidence vote in parliament for failure to
restore peace in Somalia. One hundred and seventy-four members of the Transitional National
Assembly took part in the no-confidence vote with 141 members voting for removal of Khalif and
29 members rejecting the motion. Hassan Farah was a former minister of internal affairs and
security in the autonomous Puntland region. After supporting the Arta Peace Conference
initiatives, he was appointed Minister of Water and Minerals in the TNG until his new appointment.
Since this appointment, Farah announced that he would not appoint a new council of ministers
within 30 days as stipulated in the Transitional Charter before a reconciliation conference
scheduled for a later date.
There is evidence that the election of Hassan in 2000 did not receive widespread support. To begin
with, the self-declared state of Somaliland distanced itself from the process saying that it is no
longer part of Somalia. Also, the independent region of Puntland declared its total opposition to the
Arta Conference decisions. Another fiercest dissent came from the warlords forming a group
known as the Somali Reconciliation and Restoration Council, also called SRRC, comprising 42
members who met in Badoa to forge a united front against the interim government under the
leadership of Hassan. The president of the separate regional administration of Puntland Col.
Ahmed Abdullahi attended the meeting in Awassa, Ethiopia where the SRRC was formed. Other
prominent warlords in SRRC include Osman Ali Ato, Musse Sudi Yolahow and Mohamed Hussein
Aideed who together control large parts of the Somali capital Mogadishu. The SRRC, which was
hosted by Ethiopia in March 2001, claimed that it was n the process of establishing a "national
representative government" to spearhead national reconciliation.
The Quest for Self-Determination in Somaliland and Puntland
There is a significant reason to question the SSC claim that all clans and regions of Somalia were
fully engaged and participated in the Somali peace conference. Hussein Mohamed Aideed, a
prominent Somali faction leader, denounced the peace conference held in Djibouti. Both
Somaliland and Puntland boycotted the Arta Peace Conference meeting and significant crossaccusations continued between warlords and non-clan leaders mostly on two issues: the nature of
the government and the future of Somaliland and Puntland. The former problem is characterized
by the Somali Peace Rally, or SPR, as an effort by Djibouti and Libya to capitalize on the
perpetuation of warlord politics. While no doubt these countries would benefit from the
continuation of their regional partnerships, this is a deeper structural problem. Djibouti and Libya
are encouraging a unitary system based on consociational representation by clan leaders in the new
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government. The SPR, and the Western powers, advocate a loose federal system with significant
regional power. Under the latter, Somaliland and Puntland would have independent legislatures in a
quasi-confederation pact.
A basic problem is that neither Somaliland nor Puntland accept either system. They have argued
that any resolution that does not include three separate states is unacceptable. In a public
statement, former Somali president and current Somaliland President Mohamed H. Ibrahim Egal
reminded the international community that Somaliland and Somalia were distinct territories until
1960. It was only from 1960 to 1990 that a modest greater Somalia existed. Somaliland, he thus
concluded, would not take part in or accept the outcome of the talks in Djibouti.
Abdullahi Yusuf, the leader of Puntland, made a similar statement. Both leaders made clear that the
secessionist leaders do not recognize the Somaliland and Puntland "representatives" at the talks. In
a bold comment, Egal compared the Somaliland supporters of the Djibouti talks to the Palestinians
in the Jordanian cabinet who would be received back home with the same rancor.
On May 3, 2002, President Mohammed Ibrahim Egal died in a South African military hospital
from complications after surgery. The vice president of the self-declared republic, Dahir Riyale
Kahin, was appointed as the successor to the presidency on that same day.
Somali warlord Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed and his troops have swept through the semi-autonomous
region of Puntland. Colonel Yusuf's troops began their northward offensive on Monday, May 7,
near the town of Garoweh. On Wednesday, May 8, the region's economic hub and port city,
Bossasso, fell to Yusuf's troops without a fight. The region's rival leader, Jama Ali Jama, fled
Bossasso to an undisclosed location before Yusuf arrived.
Issues of Concern
It needs no emphasis that the search for peace in Greater Somalia is of utter necessity if other
socio-political issues have to be addressed. It is evidently clear that without peace, the country's
overall development will continuously deteriorate. The second related issue is that because of lack
of peace, humanitarian conditions are bleak. According to U.N. agencies, an estimated one million
Somalis are suffering from drought conditions and starvation. With the continuing escalation of
violence, the situation is becoming untenable. The situation in Somalia has thusly remained very
fragile. Several militia leaders have continued to challenge TNG legitimacy. Overall the security
situation in Somalia, and particularly Mogadishu, has witnessed several armed clashes between
different militias as between militia and the newly created TNG police force leading to death of
many civilians. The interim administration still has had little influence outside the capital. Powerful
factions control most of the country.
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Developments in 2002
In April 2002, a cadre of warlords located in the southwestern part of Somalia took control of six
districts and declared itself the "Southwestern Regional Government." In August 2002, fighting
broke out on the northeastern part of the country, close to the semi-autonomous region of
Puntland. The violence between factions in this area seemed aimed at establishing supreme control
over the area.
During 2002, representatives from international bodies, such as the United Nations, expressed
grave concern about the ever-increasing death toll scattered across Somalia. The violence was not
limited to the capital of separatist enclaves. Instead, clan fighting was widespread. In September
2002, even a cabinet meeting was interrupted when rebels invaded the meeting and opened fire.
Participants at the meeting were forced to flee. The incident occurred because locals resisted the
government's attempts to establish administrative structures aimed at restoring order to chaotic life
in Somalia. Residents, however, eschewed any such attempts of external "control."
As well, United Nations staff were abducted by gunmen. Notably, on Tuesday May 8, 2002,
United Nations officials suspended their activities, including humanitarian aid, in the Somali capitol
of Mogadishu. The announcement came after the kidnappers of United Nations staff member,
Muhammad Ali Adukar, refused to respond to the United Nations' demands for his release. The
United Nations was greatly concerned over the health of Muhammad Ali Adukar who has been in
captivity since April 28. Since then, other United Nations staffers were also abducted.
By September 2002, the United Nations had issued innumerable condemnations of Somalia for the
abuses against United Nations' staffers. As well, the international body called for a war crimes
tribunal to investigate the gross human rights violations that had ensued in the last decade.
Following a two-day impasse between the warlord, Musa Sude Yalahow, and the governing
administration of Somalia, there were violent clashes in Mogadishu. Several people were reported
either dead or wounded, after forces loyal to Yalahow, controlling the area to the north of the
Somali capital, Mogadishu, attacked positions held by militiamen belonging to the government.
Hundreds of families were displaced in the fighting. Earlier, hundreds of gunmen loyal to Yalahow
and led by militia leader, Mohamed Dhereh, attacked the home of the Interior Minister Dahir
Dayah. The minister was not injured in the attack.
As such, Somalia continued to exists as a land of battling enclaves ruled by armed militias. The
transitional government, led by President Abdiqasim Salad Hassan, had little control over Somalia.
Meanwhile, factional leaders, such as Yalahow, continued to count on military support from
neighboring Ethiopia.
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Peace talks were scheduled for mid-September in Kenya. They were subsequently postponed until
October 2002. Kenya's Special Envoy to Somalia stated that the main objective of the peace talks
was not the organization of a power sharing agreement, but rather, the construction of a viable
state with structures, institutions and enterprises that would facilitate a decentralized unity
government. Given Somalia's recent history, it is difficult to imagine that this objective can
realistically be achieved.
Islam in Somalia
Some mention should be made of the role of Islam in Somali politics. Nearly all Somalis are
Muslim (though most practice some syncretism blend with indigenous beliefs). Islam has become
both a positive civic force, horizontally transecting inter-clan rivalries, as well as a negative force,
drawing new lines of contention between the democratic rule of law and the Islamic laws of
Shariah. As an example, the small market town of Lukh Ganana in the southwestern Gedo region
is on record as being the hottest place on earth. It has, however, been one of the few Somali towns
free of heated political outbreaks. When Siad Barre fell, Aideed moved into Lukh Ganana, but he
was not yet strong enough to hold it. The residents pushed him out in 1992. Since then they have
been governed by a self-appointed Islamic administration that transcends warlord loyalties.
The bars have been shut down, the cinema was turned into a mosque, the chewing of khat (a mild
narcotic) was forbidden, and women began wearing a "hejab" (Muslim veil). The new
administration has become one of the most effective in Somalia. They see their town as a model
for the whole of Somalia. There are conflicts, however. Not everyone in Lukh Ganana is ready to
commit to the Shariah. Both alcohol and khat are consumed and chewed respectively in private. As
peace is achieved, people will make greater demands -- including freedoms. They may tire of the
restrictions if their faith falls short of the civic propensities of Islam. Moreover, in the context of
global politics, the West greatly fears the expansion of Islam. It will do anything in its power -including undermining a world view that lends itself to regional stability -- to avoid the rise of an
Islamic state in Somalia.
In June 2003, one day after the announcement of the impeachment of the incumbent president,
Abdulkassim Salat Hassan, the speaker of Somali's interim parliament declared himself the new
president of the country. Abdallah Derow Isaak said he would lead Somalia until a new president
could be officially appointed; however, it is highly unlikely that his announcement will have
resonance in a country that has been functioning without a central government since the overthrow
of President Siad Barre in 1991. To date, the transitional national government holds only partial
control over of the capital city of Mogadishu.
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On April 19, 2003, the presidential election for the Republic of Somaliland (the northern part of the
country) peacefully concluded. According to the Electoral Commission the UDUB party of the
present government won by 80 votes from the nearest rival, the KULMIYE party. On May 16,
2003, the first elected president and vice president of the Republic of Somaliland were sworn in
Hargiesa. The president H.E. Dahir Riyale Kahin and the vice president H.E. Ahmed Yusuf Yasin
were to hold their respective posts for five years.
In July 2003, after holding negotiations in Kenya with international mediators, representatives of
Somalia's many factions proposed a plan for a new government. The plan called for the
establishment of a federal government; a transitional parliament of 350 members; a parliamentappointed president; and a president-appointed prime minister. The Transitional National
Government's (TNG) Prime Minister Hassan Abshir Farrah signed the agreement, which
garnered wide support from the rest of the government. Only President Hassan rejected the plan,
calling it undemocratic and anti-Islam. The president walked out of the talks later in July and said
he would not step down as was called for in the plan. The TNG mandate expired in August and
the president said he would not step down until a new parliament and government were in place.
The president's delegation abandoned the talks altogether in November.
Mediators invited the president to return to a special 10-day conference in January 2004. From
this conference a new government plan emerged. Under the new plan the parliament would have
275 members to be selected by clan leaders and warlords. The president agreed to the plan and
said he would turn over power to the parliament when it was established. After months of
negotiations, all but eight seats in the parliament were filled by September 2004. Shariff Hassan
Sheikh Adan was elected speaker.
Twenty-eight candidates were in the running before the mid-October presidential elections in
2004. The most prominent candidates were: interim-President Abdulkassim Salat Hassan;
Puntland leader, Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed; and former Ambassador to the U.S., Abdullah Adow.
Following the elections, a new government was formed. It was headed by President Abdullahi
Yusuf Ahmed and Prime Minister Mohammed Ali Ghedi. Movement toward peace and normal
government was discussed during this period.
Meanwhile, as leaders and the majority of the country's warlords were meeting in Kenya, violence
continued throughout much of Somalia in 2004. Sixty were killed in heavy fighting in Mogadishu
in May between the fighters of Musa Sudi Yalahow and Bashir Raghe. Thousands were displaced
within the city. Thirty were killed in fighting near the border of Kenya in the west and rival militias
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fought over the port of Kismayo in September. The forces of General Morgan, an infamously
brutal warlord, fought the Jubba Valley Alliance for Kismayo until they were driven back. Morgan
then left the country to join the peace talks in Kenya. He was the last major warlord to do so and
one of the few to bypass a run for the presidency.
Some fighting was reported between militias of Puntland and Somaliland in September 2004. The
fighting was apparently over the disputed Sool region, which is claimed by both.
As Somalia prepared to re-establish its government at home in early 2005, it was agreed that 6,800
peacekeeping troops from Uganda and Sudan would be sent to Somalia to set up the new
government in that country. Sudanese and Ugandan troops would later be followed by troops from
the African Union, however, no dates for the deployments were offered. The Ugandan foreign
Minister said that the decision (to use troops from those two countries rather than from bordering
countries) had been made in order to honor the sensitivities of the Somali people.
Reportedly, the president of Somalia's president was willing to accept troops from neighboring
states; however, the Somali parliament vociferously opposed his position. The Somali parliament,
which was meeting in the Kenyan capital city of Nairobi, voted against President Abdullahi Yusuf
Ahmed's decision to deploy peacekeepers from Kenya, Ethiopia and Djibouti in Somalia.
Meanwhile, Somali warlords warned they would attack troops from neighboring states, most
notably from what they consider to be their biggest rival -- Ethiopia -- if they formed part of the
peacekeeping force.
It should, be noted that Somalia's government and parliament convened in Kenya because the
Somali capital city of Mogadishu was regarded as too dangerous. The measures were oriented
toward the plan to relocate the government and parliament, headed by President Abdullahi Yusuf
Ahmed and Prime Minister Mohammed Ali Ghedi, in Somalia. That said, it would be the
fourteenth time in 13 years that such an attempt was made; the country has been ravaged by clan
warfare, warlordism and lawlessness for that period. The key challenges in this regard include:
security in the capital city of Mogadishu, the deployment of foreign peacekeepers, and whether the
$77 million relocation budget can be met. These key challenges sit amidst the central question of
whether the time is finally right for the Somali government to return from exile.
In late October 2005, Prime Minister Ali Mohammed Ghedi announced a decision to close certain
airstrips in order to improve law and order in Somalia. In the aftermath of the announcement,
Somali warlord, Muse Sudi Yalahow, threatened to shoot down any plane flying over the capital
city of Mogadishu. Primarily, the warlords did not want to lose any of the much-needed revenue
derived from the use of airstrips to transport items, such as the mild narcotic leaf, called khat. For
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the government, the retaliatory move by the warlords could present risks since flights from Kenya,
where government members often operate in exile, would have to fly over Mogadishu in order to
reach Jowhar, an area not controlled by rebels that functions as a temporary capital for the
government.
The establishment of a transitional parliament and government in 2004 included various Mogadishu
warlords, such as Yalahow, who was given the position of Minister of Trade. These measures,
however, have done little to abate the overall lawlessness and state of anarchy that has plagued
Somalia since 1991.
In November 2005, three people were killed in an apparent assassination attempt on the prime
minister in the Somali capital city of Mogadishu. Prime Minister Gedi, who was on a visit
to Mogadishu from Jowhar, escaped unharmed.
The Somali capital city of Mogadishu was wracked by violence in February 2006. Fighting
between warlords, Islamic militants and a newly-emerging group called the Alliance for the
Restoration of Peace and Counter-Terrorism, has been on the rise -- contributing to at least 10
deaths on Feb. 18, 2006 when rocket-propelled grenades and anti-aircraft guns were fired.
The warlords, some of whom enjoyed positions in Somalia's transitional government, reportedly
forged alliances with the new group, which was embroiled in a battle with the Islamic militants and
its associated courts. The militants were accused of harboring ties to the terrorist group, al-Qaida,
and also of murdering moderate Muslim scholars. The upsurge in violence was regarded as the
most significant in recent years, leading to an exodus of families from the capital city. In an effort
to stem the tide of chaos, Culture Minister Abdi Hashi Abdullahi released a statement saying, "We
remind the warring sides that no one ever won a war during the past 15 years of fighting."
Also in February 2006, Somalia's transitional parliament convened inside the country for the first
time since it was formed in Kenya in 2004. It was an attempt by the government to assert some
degree of authority after years of ongoing conflict. The meeting took place in a food warehouse in
the central town of Baidoa, rather than in the dangerous capital city of Mogadishu, which was
under the control of militias, warlords and other factions. While the majority of the members of
parliament were present, the meeting was not attended by the powerful warlords who held sway
in Mogadishu.
The location of the meeting was a key consideration, not only because of security concerns, but
also because of the political symbolism. President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed, Prime Minister
Mohamed Ali Gedi, and their allies, wanted the seat of government to be in Jowar rather than in
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the lawless and chaotic capital city. Others, such as Parliament Speaker Sharif Hassan Sheikh
Adan, countered that the president did not have the authority to change the seat of government
from Somalia's capital of Mogadishu. As well, there were factional disputes about whether or not
foreign peacekeepers should be brought in to provide much-needed security for the country.
At the assembly, the president said, "This is a historical opportunity for the Somalia parliament,
government and the people." He went on to state, "Let us choose between serving our people or
being put on the bad list of history as people who promoted confrontation among Somalis and
lacked the skills to administer a modern Somalia."
In March 2006, a dispute broke out in the northern suburbs of the Somali capital city of
Mogadishu between the alliance of controlling warlords and Islamic militia fighters. For about 15
years, the city had been the site of conflict and violence with rival warlords and other interest
groups vying for dominance.
The emergence of Islamic militias, which advocated a system of Islamic courts as a means to
bring law and order to the chaotic city, served only to complicate the situation. In order to
assert power, the Islamists took control over Mogadishu's al-Maan port and blocked access to key
roads in the city. Meanwhile, previously-fighting warlords were unexpectedly united in their
opposition to the Islamic militia, accusing the group of killing Muslim moderates and otherwise
abusing people.
The conflict between the militias and the cadres of warlords led to a particularly marked increase in
violence. Indeed, over 70 fatalities and over 200 injuries were reported to have taken place in the
space of days during March 2006. The situation appeared to have reached some resolution
following a ceasefire brokered by the clan elders.
Violence erupted in Mogadishu again in May 2006 between rival militias. Fighting between
warlords and Islamist militias went on for a week, with both parties trying to control a strategic
roadway leading out of Mogadishu. The violence became so acute that thousands of people fled
their homes, leaving the northern suburbs of the city a virtual ghost town. As well, up to deserted
150 people were reported to have been killed in the cross-fire of shootouts between the two
factions. In one particularly disturbing case, a child and a pregnant woman were killed in the
crossfire of the violence. Meanwhile, hospitals officials warned that their supplies were being
exhausted
This particular spate of bloodshed was sparked when a cadre of warlords attacked a
vehicle carrying Islamic court officials. Warlords in Somalia, which controlled the capital city for
years, created the Alliance for the Restoration of Peace and Counter-Terrorism earlier in 2006.
The establishment of the alliance appeared to have been spurred by the rising ascendancy of
Islamist militias, which (as noted above) restored some stability to the war-torn city of
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Mogadishu. A power struggle between the two factions ensued -- with both sides flinging
accusations at one another. While the warlords accused the Islamist militias of proving safe haven
for foreign extremists and terrorists associated with al-Qaida, the Islamists accused the warlords of
being in cahoots with the United States.
While the United States neither confirmed nor denied the claim that it backed the warlords, it said
that it would work with individuals or groups committed to fighting terror. The location of a base
for an American anti-terrorism task force in nearby Djibouti only added to speculation that the
United States may have forged some sort of agreement with the Somali warlords. Meanwhile, a
United Nations report stated that an unnamed country was in violation of the governing arms
embargo on Somalia -- presumably providing it with arms or weaponry.
The Somali capital city of Mogadishu enjoyed some calm by mid-May 2006 following agreement
on ceasefire. The agreement came after a week of heavy fighting between warlords and Islamist
militias, when President Abdullahi Yusuf called on government ministers -- some of whom also
function as warlords -- to stop the violence.
On May 26, 2006, the Somali capital of Mogadishu was hit by fresh violence as militias became
embroiled in gun battles, leaving over 60 people dead, scores more injured and thousands
homeless. A day later, further clashes left over a dozen people dead. This spate of violence was
centered in the districts of Daynile and Galgalato and involved some of the heaviest fighting in
years. It was the latest episode of bloodshed involving the ongoing power struggle between
warlords and Islamic militias in Somalia. The flare-up of violence suggested that efforts by clan
elders to mediate between the two factions failed to yield any lasting truce.
Somalia's head of government, interim Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Gedi, responded to the
situation in Mogadishu by ordering four cabinet ministers (known to be warlords) to return to the
seat of the transitional government in Baidoa. The prime minister apparently issued formal letters
of warning to the ministers, promising legal action if they did not follow his summons. Soon
thereafter, the ministers were dismissed for failure to comply.
In another development, warlord Mohamed Qanyare Afrah left his base at Dayniile in Mogadishu
and headed for Jowhar. Fearful that Jowhar was about to become the newest site of another
battle, the United Nations withdrew its aid staff from that town. Meanwhile, warlords seized
control of a hospital some time earlier, resulting in calls from the Islamic militias to vacate the
facility. The United Nations criticized the seizure of the hospital as being a violation of
international law.
By the start of June 2006, Somalia's situation showed signs of further chaos when Islamic militias
seized control of Balad -- a town on the outskirts of Mogadishu. It had been under the control of a
warlord, Muse Sudi Yalahow, who was also the Minister of Trade in the transitional government.
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At least 15 people were killed in Balad. Yalahow's cadre was forced to flee and were said to be
heading in the direction of the town of Jowhar. The location of Balad, at the entry of a roadway to
the country's most fertile regions, made its capture a strategic victory for the Islamic militias.
Thus, it marked a significant shift in the power struggle plaguing Somalia.
Then, on June 5, 2006, Islamic militias claimed that they had control over Mogadishu. Sheikh
Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, the leader of the Union of Islamic Courts, announced that the control of
Mogadishu by warlords was over and he called for acceptance of the new leadership. In this
regard, he said, "The Union of Islamic Courts are not interested in a continuation of hostilities and
will fully implement peace and security after the change has been made by the victory of the
people with the support of Allah." Amidst this announcement came reports that some Mogadishubased warlords had shifted their alliances to the Islamists. Interim Prime Minister Ali Mohammed
Ghedi said that his government wanted to have talks with the Islamic militias.
In mid-June 2006, both the African Union (AU) and diplomats from the West agreed to send a
team to Somalia to assess the possibility of deploying peacekeepers in that country. In this regard,
the AU Peace and Security Commissioner, Said Djinnit, noted that there was concurrence within
the international community for the notion of offering support to the interim government of
Somalia.
The move came on the heels of the aforementioned power shift in the capital city of Mogadishu in
which Islamist militias seized control from the warlords. Meanwhile, the interim government,
which has been trying to operate outside the capital city where it held no sway, was in the midst of
trying to sort out how -- or if -- it could engage with the prevailing Islamist militias. While the
deployment of international peacekeepers would clearly be helpful in supporting the authority of
the interim government, there were fears that conflict between the peacekeepers and the militias
was sure to follow. Nevertheless, there were tentative moves oriented toward joint dialogue
between the two parties.
In the backdrop of these developments were allegations that Ethiopian troops had crossed the
border and had been seen in Baidoa -- the town to the north of Mogadishu where the interim
government was seated. Ethiopia's government (under Zenawi) has been regarded as an ally of
Somalia's interim President Abdullahi Yusuf. In fact, Ethiopia aided President Yusuf in defeating an
Islamist militia back in the 1990s. Thus, rumors of Ethiopian troops in Somalia undoubtedly
evoked questions about what strategy was being planned by the interim government as it grappled
with the ascendancy of the Islamists. For its part, Sheikh Ali Hassan, a leader with the Islamist
militia, responded to the reports of Ethiopian troops possibly being on Somali territory with a
warning as follows: "We call on the international community to pressure Ethiopia [to] remove its
troops from Somalia territory in order to avoid another conflict."
Regardless of the cause -- either because of conflict between peacekeepers and the militias, or
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between Ethiopian forces and the militias -- the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees,
Antonio Guterres, warned that any conflict in Somalia would surely yield catastrophic results.
In late June 2006, Somalia's Union of Islamic Courts, which had taken control Mogadishu,
created a new power structure. A radical cleric, Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys, was chosen to head
the legislative council. Sheikh Aweys has been identified as being on the United States' list of
terrorists. It was also reported that he had once led an armed group, al-Itihaad al-Islamiya, which
the United States has said has links to the terrorist base, al-Qaida. A more moderate choice, Sharif
Sheikh Ahmed, was selected to chair the executive committee. Sharif Sheikh Ahmed has been
viewed as one of the central leaders behind the efforts carried out by the Union of Islamic Courts.
In July 2006, Somalia's interim President Yusuf boycotted talks with the Union of Islamic Courts,
saying that they had contravened against an established ceasefire. Yusuf reversed his stance when
the International Contact Group, composed of both Western and African countries, declined
sending peacekeepers to Somalia and instead urged broad-based talks among Somali interest
groups. Indeed, the Somalian leader withdrew his opposition to talks with the Islamists who had
take control of Mogadishu, paving the way for multi-party negotiations.
Later in the month [July 2006], Islamists were apparently advancing on the town of Baidoa,
where the interim government has been based because of the impossibility of operating from the
capital city of Mogadishu. They subsequently withdrew and said that they did not intend to attack
the city, despite their increasing control over the southern part of the country.
Meanwhile, as noted above, the ascendancy of the Islamists had become the source of concern for
the government of Ethiopia, which was allied with the interim government and opposed Islamist
militias. Soon after the news emerged that the Islamists were approaching Baidoa, there were new
warnings from Ethiopia that it would send its troops into Somalia to protect the interim
government.
Despite the fact that the likelihood of an attack by Islamists on Baidoa seemed to have subsided
and the authorities in that town confirmed that the situation on the ground was calm, there were
reports that Ethiopian forces were at the government's base in that town. There were subsequent
reports that Ethiopian troops were identified in the town of Wajid, purportedly to protect the
transitional government. That said, neither the government of Somalia nor the government of
Ethiopia confirmed this development.
In response, Somali Islamist leader Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys called for a "holy war" to expel the
Ethiopian troops, saying, "I am calling on the Somali people to wage a holy war against Ethiopians
in Somalia." As well, the head of the Union of Islamic Courts security contingent warned that
scheduled peace talks would be cancelled if Ethiopian forces did not leave Somalian territory.
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On the ground in Mogadishu, there were rallies to celebrate the increasing stability that was
emerging in the city under the leadership of the Islamists. Observers also pointed to the fact that
cars were now traveling in the city without having to pass through checkpoints -- a significant shift
from the past years when checkpoints interrupted passage within Mogadishu. The demonstrators
also called on Ethiopian troops to leave Somalia.
During the last week of July 2006, close to 20 members of the transitional government -- cabinet
ministers and deputy ministers -- reportedly resigned. Their action was spurred by the presence of
Ethiopian troops in Baidoa, their opposition to the notion of foreign peacekeepers in the country, as
well as differences in dealing with the Islamic militias. Although some members of government
attempted to forge an agreement with the Islamic militias to convene talks, there was no
receptivity on the part of the prime minister. One cabinet minister, Public Works Minister Osman
Ali Atto, even went so far as to characterize Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Gedi was "an obstacle
to progress." Parliamentarians were thusly planning to advance a no confidence motion in the
transitional government, which was itself looking increasingly weakened.
On July 28, 2006, Abdalla Derrow Issak, the Minister of Constitutional Affairs in Somalia's interim
government was shot to death in the town of Baidoa, where the government has been seated.
Prime Minister Gedi promised that those responsible for killing his colleague would be brought to
justice. Despite this promise, mass protests ensued in the streets of Baidoa, complete with
violence and vandalism. For its part, the Union of Islamic Courts, which increasingly took control
of the capital city of Mogadishu, condemned the death of minister and denied playing any part in
the shooting.
The killing of the Derrow Issak added to what was becoming a governmental crisis, since, as noted
above, a number of government ministers had resigned and the prime minister was, himself,
facing a no confidence motion. That motion, along with the resignations from cabinet, had been
triggered by opposition to the prime minister's refusal to enter into talks with the Islamic Courts.
Despite these differences within government and the climate of rising opposition against him, the
prime minister survived the confidence vote on July 30, 2006. The no confidence motion required
138 votes to pass, however, it received only 126. As such, the prime minister held on to his
position. While Gedi responded to the vote by saying, "I respect those who voted against me and I
respect those who voted for me," a number of parliamentarians became embroiled in physical
fighting on the floor of parliament.
In mid-August 2006, Ethiopia said that Islamic militias were making disturbing gains in Somalia.
Indeed, the Islamic militias, which had already taken control of key towns including the capital of
Mogadishu, had advanced northwards toward Gaalkayo. Ethiopia also said that too much power
was being placed in the hands of the chairman of the Union of Islamic Courts -- Sheikh Hassan
Dahir Aweys. Ethiopia warned that the transitional Somali government was at risk of being made
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irrelevant, while the country fell into the hands of Islamist terrorists. A statement by a senior
information official for the government of Ethiopia said, "Any move which would be detrimental to
the national interests of the country [Ethiopia] would not be tolerated." This expressed statement
evoked fears that the country would militarily intervene into Somali affairs, thus contributing to the
possible outbreak of a full-scale war in the region.
Earlier, there were reports (noted above) that Ethiopian troops had entered into Somalia. There
were other reports that six armored divisions of the Ethiopian army were deployed along the border
-- presumably as a show of support by Ethiopia's government to the transitional Somalian
government. With Islamist militias reported to be advancing in Somalia, it appeared that Ethiopia
made good on its promise to intervene. Ethiopian troops were said to be moving toward the town
of Baidoa -- the seat of the transitional government of Somalia -- on August 20, 2006. Ethiopia,
which was aligned with the transitional Somali government, said that it would not allow Islamist
militias to continue to hold sway in Somalia. For its part, the Somali transitional government
denied the presence of Ethiopian troops in its jurisdiction.
In early September 2006, the situation shifted somewhat when Somalia's interim government
forged an agreement with the Union of Islamic Courts to create a national army. The deal was
reached following talks in Sudan that had been mediated by the Arab League. Those meetings
were regarded as a positive development since they resulted in the first face-to-face discussions
between the transitional government and the Islamists since June 2006. Another round of talks
was scheduled for October 2006. At that time, the two sides were scheduled to flesh out details
pertaining to power-sharing and security. Still, the existing agreement to form a national army was
just one aspect of a larger concord, which included a pledge to eschew foreign aid, as well as joint
recommitment to a previous truce.
The reference to foreign aid was specifically aimed at reducing the risk of intervention by other
countries into the complex scenario in Somalia. At issue was the claim that the weakened interim
government of Somalia was being aided by Ethiopian troops and equipment, for the purpose of
staving off the advance of the Islamist militias into territory controlled either by warlords or the
transitional government. But complaints about foreign intervention were also being levied by the
Somali government. At the other end of the equation, there were increasing suggestions that arms
were flowing to the Islamist militias in violation of an embargo. Some experts intimated that the
weapons from Iran and some Arab countries were entering Somalia via Eritrea. Although the
Eritrean government denied the charges that it was supplying arms to Islamist militias, the
transitional government of Somalia reacted by declaring its support for an Eritrean rebel group,
Eritrean Liberation Front.
As the interest groups entrenched themselves into opposing enclaves, anxieties increased about
regional conflict in the region. Notably, observers began to speculate that Ethiopia and Eritrea were
resuming their hostilities and using Somali terrain as the proxy for a return to war. The presence of
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Ethiopian and Eritrean military interests in Somalia served only to magnify the depth of the
problem. In fact, according to the United Nations, there were more than 8,000 Ethiopian troops
operating in Somalia as allies of the weak transitional government. Meanwhile, approximately
2,000 Eritrean troops were said to have been earlier deployed to Somalia to assist the Islamic
Courts. With the risk of a regional conflict at hand, the agreement discussed above was viewed as
very necessary to diffusing tensions.
On September 18, 2006, Somalia's President Abdullahi Yusuf survived an apparent assassination
attempt when successive car bombs exploded at a time when the president's convoy were outside
parliament in Baidoa. Over a dozen people were killed in the attacks, including the president's
brother.
Because of President Yusuf's poor relations with the Union of Islamic Courts, which controlled
most of southern Somalia, there were some suspicion that Islamic militants may have been
responsible. The timing of the attacks, however, suggested that it would not have been in the
interests of the Islamic militants to alienate the country's official leadership. Indeed, the bomb
blasts occurred at a time when parliamentarians were to set approve a new cabinet, and more
significantly, to debate the possible inclusion of the Union of Islamic Courts within government.
Somali Foreign Minister Ismail Hurre underscored this point when he said that whomever was
behind the attacks wanted reconciliation efforts with the Union of Islamic Courts to fail.
With questions still abounding about who might be responsible for the attacks, analysts drew
attention to a threat by Baidoa's controlling warlord about ten days prior. Mohamed Ibrahim
Habsade had warned that his forces would evict the government by force if they did not leave
Baidoa voluntarily. Whether or not this warlord was responsible for the assassination attempt was
not known.
Meanwhile, the Union of Islamic Courts consolidated its control of southern Somalia by taking
control of the port city of Kismayo in the last week of September 2006. Most residents had
already fled the city, and as the Islamic militants approached, government forces withdrew. There
was no violence reported.
In October 2006, relations between Somalia and Ethiopia returned to the fore as a result of
allegations that Ethiopian forces had attacked a Somali town. The Union of Islamic Courts
accused Ethiopian troops of attacking the town of Bur Haqaba, located on the road between the
seat of government in Baidoa and the official capital of Mogadishu (now held by the Islamists).
As a result, the Islamists promised revenge in the form of a "holy war." Sheikh Sharif Sheikh
Ahmed, a leader within the Union of Islamic Courts, said, "Heavily armed Ethiopian troops have
invaded Somalia... They have captured Bur Haqaba. History shows that Somalis always win when
they are attacked from outside." For its part, Ethiopia denied that its forces had traversed the
border into Somalia.
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The tensions between the Islamists in Somalia and Ethiopia saw no reprieve in the following
months. By December 2006, the Union of Islamic Courts issued a seven-day deadline to Ethiopia,
warning that if Ethiopian troops were not withdrawn from Somalia, they would face imminent
attack. Ethiopia responded by denying that its soldiers were fighting in Somalia, saying instead that
hundreds of its forces were simply assisting the transitional government. In fact, Islamists and
government forces -- apparently aided by Ethiopian troops -- were ensconced in fierce clashes in
mid-December 2006. Ethiopia's head of government, Prime Minister Meles Zenawi dismissed
the deadline and the possibility of attack, noting that such threats were nothing new.
On December 24, 2006, Ethiopia openly admitted that it was carrying out an offensive in Somalia.
The government of Ethiopia acknowledged that its troops were battling militias from the Islamic
Courts. Berhan Hailu, Ethiopia's Information Minister, said in an official statement that his
country's military had been deployed into Somali territory for the purpose of "self-defensive
measures." To this end, Hailu noted, "The Ethiopian government has taken self-defensive
measures and started counter-attacking the aggressive extremist forces of the Islamic Courts and
foreign terrorist groups." His remarks were regarded as a significant break from previous
statements by Ethiopia, which mostly consisted of a variety of denials about its activities in
Somalia.
Now, the reality on the ground in the border areas between Somalia and Ethiopia was characterized
by heavy fighting. In addition to the fierce battles apparently taking place between the Islamists
and the government forces, there were also reports of massive air strikes and shelling by Ethiopian
fighters upon Islamist-held towns. In an interview with Agence France Presse, Sheikh Hassan
Derrow of the Union of Islamic Courts reacted to these developments in saying, "The enemy of
Allah has started bombing our civilians." He and his Islamist cohorts promised to push back the
advancing Ethiopian troops.
Despite the Islamic Courts' calls to foreign fighters to join in the "holy war" in Somalia against
Ethiopia, the situation on the ground was intensifying. Days later, the conflict was spreading past
the border regions and deeper into Somali territory. There were conflicting reports about the
number of people apparently killed in the fighting.
By December 28, 2006, Ethiopian forces had advanced deep into Somali territory and were now
approaching the capital city of Mogadishu. With imminent attacks upon them, Islamist forces
abandoned Mogadishu after holding control over the city for several months. Reports issued by
the Associated Press indicated that some members of the Islamist militias were abandoning their
duties and pledging their allegiance to elders in the city. There were also reports of gunfire
throughout the city and looting of buildings that had been used by officials of the Union of Islamic
Courts.
At the close of 2006, the transitional government of Somalia, aided by Ethiopian forces, had
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control of Mogadishu. Islamist militias had fled the city, with many of their ranks heading toward
the southern city of Kismayo -- one of their few remaining strongholds. Ethiopian troops were
following the Islamists and moving toward Kismayo as well. Islamists then quickly retreated from
Kismayo, even as thousands of civilians fled the port city amidst fears of violence. Such anxieties
had been heightened when news spread that there had been violent clashes between Ethiopian
troops and Islamists in the area of Jilib, to the north of Kismayo.
At the start of 2007, members of the Islamist militias were moving toward the border with Kenya.
The transitional government of Somalia called on Kenya to close its borders. The Kenyan
government responded by saying that it would convene a summit of East African countries to
consider how to deal with the emerging crisis.
Even with the Islamists on the run and with the transitional government now retrieving some of its
power, thanks to Ethiopian military support, the situation in Somalia promised to be challenging.
The government was still faced with the prospect of reaching some sort of agreement with the
Islamists, or risk continued destabilization in a country that had not seen peace and security for
years. While the transitional government called for talks with the Union of Islamic Courts, the
Islamists said that no dialogue was possible until Ethiopian forces exited Somalia. Indeed, the
presence of foreign troops in Somalia was a matter of controversy among locals with divided
loyalties. As a result, Ethiopia promised to depart quickly from Somalia.
In an interview with the British media in mid-January 2007, Prime Minister Meles Zenawi of
Ethiopia said that his country's forces were set to begin its withdrawal from Somalia. The
Ethiopian leader said, "We want to withdraw at the earliest possible opportunity but we want to do
it in a responsible manner."
For its part, the transitional government of Somalia was expected to concentrate on diplomacy in
the first part of 2007. At issue was the matter of negotiations with the ousted Islamists and
warlords. Such negotiations were aimed at bringing these disparate and rival factions into
government, for the purpose of stabilizing the country and in the interests of long-term peace.
Meanwhile, the African Union (AU) was set to discuss a plan by which it would deploy a
peacekeeping force to Somalia, which could eventually be replaced with United Nations
peacekeepers at some point in the future. Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf had earlier called for a
"speedy deployment" of peacekeepers to his country. While the United States offered to provide
$10 million in funds toward the creation of peacekeeping force that would operate under the aegis
of the African Union, few countries initially pledged to send troops to Somalia. The European
Union, however, joined the fray in the second week of January 2007, saying that it might send its
own peacekeeping force to Somalia.
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At an AU summit at the close of January 2007, Somalia's leadership agreed to host a reconciliation
conference. Left to be seen was whether or not President Abdullah Yusuf would invite clan and
religious leaders to the table for reconciliation. Such movement toward reconciliation would allow
the European Union (EU) to release funding that could be used toward funding peacekeeping force
in Somalia. External players, such as the EU, the United States and the United Nations, urged that
moderate Islamists be included in the reconciliation process and ultimately, within a future
government.
Also at the start of 2007, the United States (U.S.) carried out air strikes against Islamic extremists
in the southern part of Somalia. It was the first military operation by the U.S. in Somalia since the
1990s when 18 American troops were killed in the Somali capital of Mogadishu.
The U.S. tracked Islamists, believed to have links with the terrorist enclave, al-Qaida, via aerial
reconnaissance. Once detected, strikes were launched from a U.S. gunship located at a military
base in Djibouti. U.S. sources said that the Islamists in Somalia provided safe haven for the alQaida operatives responsible for the embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998, which left
more than 250 people dead. This very cadre of Islamist operatives was also believed to be
responsible for the attacks on Israeli interests in 2002, which left 15 people dead. The Islamists,
however, denied these claims.
On the ground in Somalia, reports suggested that certain areas, such Hayo, Afmadow and the
island of Badnado, were particularly hit by the air strikes. Thousands of civilians found themselves
at the center of the violence with air strikes raining down from above, Ethiopian tanks on the
ground, and Kenyan soldiers guarding the border. In this regard, the transitional government of
Somalia acknowledged that there were over 25 deaths as a result of the strikes.
Meanwhile, the U.S. military noted that an aircraft carrier had been deployed to the waters off the
Somali coast to join three other warships, which were carrying out anti-terrorism operations.
In February 2007, the northern part of Mogadishu was hit by five mortar bombs, leading to the
deaths of at least three people, and injuries to several others. It was the latest manifestation of
violent attacks presumed to be carried out by ousted Islamist hard-liners.
In the last week of February 2007, Mogadishu's main airport, where the Ethiopian troops were
based, came under mortar fire. With the country still plagued by unrest, the Somali government
welcomed the news that the Nigerian army would deploy soldiers to Somalia as part of an
AU peacekeeping force in mid-April when the Ethiopian forces were expected to leave.
In March 2007, an ambush on African Union (AU) peacekeepers in Somalia led to a gun battle,
and the subsequent deaths of 10 civilians. The ambush occurred at a main intersection in
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Mogadishu just as the first peacekeepers in more than a decade arrived in the violent Somali capital
city. The Defense Department said that the attack would not deter the peacekeeping mission, and
that an investigation into the matter would commence. In another incident, insurgents fired
mortars at the airport during the welcoming ceremony for 800 AU troops from Uganda.
On March 23, 2007, it was reported that a cargo airplane transporting 11 engineers was shot down
after taking off from the airport in Somalia's capital city of Mogadishu. Observers on the ground
said that the plane was shot down by a missile, however, that claim was not confirmed at the time
of writing. The aircraft, with a crew of either Russians or Belarussians, apparently crashed into the
northern suburbs of the city and was reported to have exploded in flames. It was not known if
there were any survivors or if people on the ground were hurt. It was also unknown as to whether
the situation was related to ongoing tensions between ethnic clans that dominate Mogadishu and
the Ethiopian military. The Somali government issued a statement in which it warned that the
apparent attack would not be accepted by either the authorities or the people.
Heavy fighting plagued the Somali capital of Mogadishu in late March 2007 between troops and
Islamist rebels. The bloody conflict led to many civilian deaths, with some estimates noting that
the death toll might be in the hundreds. In fact, the Red Cross noted that it was the worst spate of
violence in Mogadishu in 15 years. Accordingly, hospitals were over-taxed as they attempted to
deal with hundreds of casualties.
One African Union (AU) peacekeeper was among those killed the flare of violence. AU forces
arrived in Somalia a month prior to replace outgoing Ethiopian troops, which entered the country in
late 2006 to help the weak transitional government assert its authority over the ascendancy of
Islamist rebels. While the Ethiopian troops managed to drive the Islamists from the country, in
recent weeks, they appeared to be carrying out renewed attacks in Mogadishu. In response, the
transitional government, backed by Ethiopian forces, said that it was launching an offensive against
Islamist militias. That offensive had evolved into the ongoing bloody violence now plaguing
Mogadishu.
April 2007 saw Somalia hit by a wave of rampant violence. On April 20, 2007, reports suggested
that clashes between Ethiopian-backed government troops and insurgents, made up of
both Islamists and militants from the Hawiye clan, were so violent that approximately 130 people
had been killed and over 200 had been injured. Days later, the violence was ongoing. By April 22,
2007, reports noted that scores more people had died and that hospitals were being taxed by
the casualty lists. One day later on April 23, 2007, Mogadishu was the site of heavy shelling as
Ethiopian-backed government forces continued their fight with insurgents. Many people were now
trapped in their homes, unable to leave for fear of being hit by shelling. Still more deaths were
recorded on that day, taking the death toll to more than 250. Reporters said that corpses littered
the streets of the capital.
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But Mogadishu was only one site of the violence. Kismayo in the south saw fighting between rival
clans, with the Marehan taking control, to the detriment of government forces.
Meanwhile, people were being displaced as they fled the bloodshed and violence plaguing
Mogadishu. In recent months, up to 320,000 people fled the capital to escape the devolving
situation with many headed toward the border with Kenya. As noted above, still others were
trapped in their homes, unable to leave for fear of being hit by shelling. The medical situation was
quickly deteriorating as the number of casualties increased. Aid workers and agencies warned of a
looming humanitarian crisis as a result.
On April 24, 2007, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called for an immediate end to
the fighting, as well as the convening of talks between opposed factions.
Early June 2007 saw a bomb attack carried out against Somalia's prime minister. A suicide bomber
drove a vehicle packed with explosives into the home of Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Ghedi in
Mogadishu. Several people died and 10 people were injured as a result. The prime minister,
however, was unhurt. It was at least the third attempt of his life by would-be assassins since 2005
when he returned to Somalia. Prime Minister Ghedi accused Islamic militants linked with the
terrorist enclave of al-Qaida of trying to destabilize Somalia. To this end, he said, "The terrorists
wanted to discourage the government and Somali nation, but they will never succeed."
In June 2007, hundreds of people rushed into a police station in the Somali capital city of
Mogadishu demanding food, which was expected to be distributed by a local organizer. The Somali
security forces responded to the crowd by opening fire and killing at least five people. Somalia,
which has generally regarded as one of the world's most well-known "failed states,' has also been
wracked by violence and concomitant humanitarian crisis for several years. The ongoing food
shortages have been particularly difficult for the Somali people to deal with, and have been
exacerbated by the fact that neighboring countries, such as Kenya, have sometimes shut their
borders, thus making it difficult for food aid and humanitarian assistance to be transported into the
country.
Meanwhile, violence was ongoing elsewhere in the country. In a market in Bakara, a grenade was
thrown as a police patrol. Police responded in that case as well by opening fire. One woman
waiting for a bus was killed as a result.
The interim government blamed ousted Islamists and renegade gunmen from the dominant Hawiye
clan for the situation and imposed a curfew intended to curb the violence. However, many
Somalis responded by accusing the government of allowing security forces to carry out
indiscriminate violence against them. Overall, the landscape in Somalia continued to be
characterized by lawlessness, instability and strife, despite efforts to move the country toward
peace.
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By July 2007, the Somali capital of Mogadishu continued to be plagued by violence despite
anticipated peace and reconciliation talks set for July 15, 2007. Indeed, the capital was being hit
by an upsurge in violence, as exemplified by daily bombings, heavy shelling and shooting attacks in
areas frequented by civilians. In one case, two people died when a mortar bomb hit their house; in
another case, shootings were reported at the main market at Bakara. The Ethiopian troops, who
backed the fragile interim government and ousted the Union of Islamic Courts, as well as the
government itself, were also being particularly targeted.
The general state of chaos spurred grave doubts about the success of the upcoming peace and
reconciliation summit. The situation was not helped by the fact that several key figures, including
leading Islamists and tribesmen, refused to participate. Nevertheless, in anticipation of that event,
President Abdullahi Yusuf met with delegates from the African Union, Kenya, the European
Union, and various European countries, who were informed about security plans for the summit.
The delegates also met with elders from the Hawiye clan, however, there was no indication about
whether or not clan representatives would attend the talks. As well, there was no confirmation
about attendance by the Islamic Courts, despite the expressed view by Westerners and political
experts that the reconciliation conference would be relateivly useless without that group's
participation.
On August 18, 2007, a clan elder was killed just outside his home in the Somali capital of
Mogadishu by three gunmen. Known as a leader within the dominant Hawiye clan of Somalia,
Maalim Harun Maalim Yusuf had played a central role at a reconciliation meeting that ensued a
month earlier.
The incident was something of a shock to Somalis who, despite their familiarity with lawlessness
throughout the years, have not seen many incidences involving direct assassinations of clan elders.
Indeed, such tribal figures have typically been beneficiaries of an unspoken code of reverence.
Speaking about the killing, Haji Abdi Iman, a senior representative for the clan, said: "I don't care
who committed this heinous crime but I can say this is a black day for the supporters of peace
because he a dedicated negotiator despite his old age." Violence erupted in the Horuwa district of
Mogadishu following the shooting, with insurgents firing mortars at security forces.
Apart from the immediate effect on the streets of Mogadishu, the apparent assassination of Maalim
Harun Maalim Yusuf was expected to have a negative impact on the anticipated peace summit,
discussed above.
In mid-October 2007, two Ethiopian soldiers died as a result of a car bomb in the Somali town of
Baidoa, which has often functioned as the seat of government in a country plagued by violence and
lawlessness. Reports on the ground suggested that the actual target was an Ethiopian military post
located close to the hotel where Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Ghedi was staying. As such, there
was speculation that the bombing was motivated by factions opposed to the Ethiopian-supported
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interim government of Prime Minister Ghedi. To that end, there was claim of responsibility from
an Islamist insurgent commander that was broadcast on a radio station in Mogadishu. In that
broadcast, the Islamist leader said that the attack was an attempted assassination. Soon thereafter,
authorities raided the radio station, arrested journalists and the station manager, and ordered the
radio station be shut down.
In the background of these developments was a meeting between Prime Minister Ghedi and
President Abdullahi Yusuf, which was expected to be tense. The two men -- the head of
government and head of state respectively -- disagreed on whether or nor the current term of
government should end in October 2007 or two years later. While the president favored an
imminent end to the government on constitutional grounds, noting that it was formed three years
prior, the prime minister has said that the charter legalizing the mandate was signed only one year
ago and this would end in 2009. Meanwhile, parliament was set to table a motion on the matter.
On October 29, 2007, Somali Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Gedi resigned from office. Gedi's
resignation appeared to have stemmed from his failure to stop the resurgent Islamic militias from
carrying out an insurgency against the already-fragile interim government. As well, he was faulted
for his plan to augment the weak Somali government by involving Ethiopian troops. It was a move
that appeared to incite the Islamic militias even further. Gedi resigned following a meeting with
President Abdullahi Yusaf Ahmed.
In the background of these developments was the ongoing tension between Prime Minister Gedi
and President Abdullahi Yusuf, as noted above. With Gedi resigning from office, it was apparent
that the president had gained the upper hand.
Gedi was succeeded by Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein in November 2007, and was generally
regarded as more of a neutral figure than Gedi, who had close ties to Ethiopian authorities and
refused to negotiatie with opposition groups, including the Islamists. Hussein was a member of
the largest clan in Somalia -- the Hawiye -- and his background included a career as a policeman
and a stint as the head of the Somali Red Crescent organization.
A week after Somali Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Gedi resigned from office amidst charges that
he failed to stop the Islamic insurgency, the Somali capital of Mogadishu was embroiled in heavy
fighting between Ethiopian troops (in Somalia to back the fragile government) and Islamic
militants. Several Ethiopian soldiers and even more civilians were reported to have been killed in
the violence, in which Islamic militants were using guerilla tactics to carry out their attacks.
However, the Islamic militants were not the only forces involved in fighting with Ethiopian troops.
There were also reports of local Mogadishu residents opening fire on Ethiopian forces, suggesting
that the presence of foreign forces in Somalia was taking a toll.
At the start of November 2007, the Somali capital of Mogadishu was embroiled in heavy fighting
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between Ethiopian troops (in Somalia to back the fragile government) and Islamic militants.
Several Ethiopian soldiers and even more civilians were reported to have been killed in the
violence, in which Islamic militants were using guerilla tactics to carry out their attacks. However,
the Islamic militants were not the only forces involved in fighting with Ethiopian troops. There
were also reports of local Mogadishu residents opening fire on Ethiopian forces, suggesting that the
presence of foreign forces in Somalia was taking a toll.
Meanwhile, the violence was having a real effect on the ground as several thousand residents were
displaced from their homes as they tried to escape the barrage of bullets. As well, the fighting
prevented the transportation of goods, ultimately resulting in the depletion of fresh food supplies in
the city. As such, aid agencies warned of a looming humanitarian crisis. The United Nations
warned that 1.5 million people were in need of humanitarian assistance of some kind. By the
second week of November 2007, tens of thousands of residents of the Somali capital of
Mogadishu were fleeing the violence, which left scores of people dead in the space of only a week.
In December 2007, Prime Minister Hussein said that he was dissolving the cabinet, and appointing
new ministers -- some of whom would not come from within the transitional parliament. Speaking
from the seat of the transitional parliament, Baidoa, Hussein explained that the international
community wanted to see a government made up of a wider cross-section of representatives.
While some observers applauded Hussein's desire to bring in new players to the political process,
others said that a smaller cabinet whose membership would only partially draw upon parliament,
would likely raise the ire of key clans in Somalia who typically expect to be part of the
government.
Meanwhile, in other developments in December 2007, Gwen Le Gouil, a French journalist, was
abducted in northern Somalia. Officials from Puntland said that a ransom had been demanded for
his release and efforts were underway to free him. While semi-autonomous Puntland has been
generally regarded as the least volatile part of Somalia, it has increasingly become the associated
with abductions, hijackings and piracy.
In early May 2008, the United States issued a missile strike in Somalia that was reportedly aimed
at al-Qaida aligned targets in that country. The deadly strike was reported to have, indeed, killed
the leader of an Islamist extremist group that the United States said was linked to al-Qaida.
Approximately 10 other individuals were also killed in the strike. Days later, more than 1,000
residents of the central Somali town of Dusamareb took to the streets to protest the United States'
missile attack and to rail against the Bush administration. Many people said that they were afraid
that further strikes might take place.
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In the first week of July 2008, the head of the United Nations Development Program in Somalia
was killed in the Somali capital city of Mogadishu. Osman Ali Ahmed was reportedly shot as he
departed from a mosque after evening prayers in the southern Bulohube district; he subsequently
died at a hospital in the area. His death was the most recent casualty in a spate of violent attacks
by Islamists against key officials in Somalia. Only the day before, an explosion in Mogadishu left a
Somali official, his wife, and several others dead. Days later, two men were shot in separate
incidents in Mogadishu. Mohamed Mohamud Qeyre, the deputy director of a local aid
organization linked with the German aid group, "Bread for the World," was killed in one case. In
the second case, an employee of an aid group tied to the United Nation's World Food Programme
was shot and seriously injured. In addition, an aid worker was killed in Galharei town in central
Somalia and a driver for the World Food Programme was killed at a checkpoint in the same period.
In response, humanitarian aid agencies were considering withdrawing their workers from Somalia
due to the devolving state of security in already-lawless and volatile Somalia. Meanwhile, there
was no confirmation as to who was responsible for the attacks. There was speculation that some
power brokers were unhappy that humanitarian agencies were providing aid to Islamic insurgents
and, as such, might be to blame. But Islamic insurgents have in the past attacked Somalis working
with foreign groups and, thusly, could also be considered possible suspects.
A roadside bombing in the Somali capital of Mogadishu left at least 20 people dead and close to 50
wounded in early August 2008. Most of those killed with women who were cleaning the streets.
There was no claim of responsibility, however, roadside bombs have become something of a
hallmark tactic of Islamic insurgents in their struggle against the Ethiopian-backed transitional
government.
The latter part of October 2008 saw heavy fighting between Ethiopian-backed government troops
and extremist Islamist insurgents in the Somali capital city of Mogadishu. At least 20 people were
reported to have been killed in clashes, while dozens more were wounded. In a single case, five
people died when a mortar hit their house. It was the most intense fighting in Mogadishu in several
weeks.
Elsewhere in Somalia, a humanitarian aid worker from the United Nations World Food Programme
was shot to death as he exited a mosque in the town of Merka. His death was the latest in a spate
of assassinations in Somalia that appeared to specifically target air workers.
November 2008 saw violent and unstable Somalia devolve further into a state of disrepute on the
global stage when a girl was dragged into a stadium and stoned to death. Aisha Ibrahim
Duhulow's family reported that she had been raped by three men to the Al Shabab Islamist militia
resulting in her detention. There was no attempt to either identify or arrest the rapists. Instead,
the girl was dragged to a stadium in the southern port town of Kismayo and was reported to have
been screaming "Don't kill me!" At the stadium, , she was buried to the neck in a hole as a truck
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loaded with rocks arrived on the scene. Fifty men then stoned her repeatedly while about 1,000
witnesses watched in the audience. After ten minutes of continuous stoning, two nurses checked
to see if she was dead. Upon determining that she was yet alive, the stoning recommenced until
she was determined to be dead. In this way, Aisha Ibrahim Duhulow was subject to death by
stoning for the crime of being raped and then reporting her attack to the authorities.
In December 2008, Somali President Abdullahi Yusef removed Prime Minister Nur Hassan
Hussein from office on the grounds that the head of government had failed to end the conflict
between hostile factions, effectively leaving Somalia without a functioning government and as
something of a failed state.
The move by the president came at a time when the United Nations was trying to broker peace
talks with the Islamists militants. To that end, Hussein said that his removal from office was part
of the president's plan to undermine the United Nations-sponsored peace negotiations. The prime
minister's position was bolstered when African Union Commission leader, Jean Ping, condemned
the president's decision to have Hussein removed from office.
Days later, the Somali parliament gave a vote of confidence to Prime Minister Nur Hassan
Hussein, declaring his ouster by President Abdullahi Yusef to be illegal, and effectively reinstating
him into office. For his part, the president said he would abide by the parliament's decision.
The power struggle between the president and prime minister did not fade quickly from the public
purview. Indeed, the East African regional bloc, Inter-governmental Authority (IGA), said that it
would impose sanctions on Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed for his autocratic move to
remove Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein as the head of government. IGA made clear its
support for Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein and expressed regret over the president's attempt
to oust the head of government from office. In a written communiqué, IGA stated, "[IGA] regrets
the attempts by President Abdullahi Yusuf to unconstitutionally appoint a new prime minister that
Iga does not recognize, and decides to impose sanctions on him and his associates immediately."
Also on the table for discussion was the matter of peacekeeping troops in Somalia at a time when
Ethiopian troops were soon expected to exit Somalia. Indeed, Ethiopian Foreign Minister Seyoum
Mesfin said that his country had made the "irrevocable" decision to soon pull back its
approximately 3,000 troops from Somalia.
Accordingly, there was an imminent need for some sort of stabilizing force in Somalia, given its
status as a quasi-failed state with a paralyzed government, and a dismal security situation on the
ground, with Islamic militants on the offensive. To that end, the African Union (AU) decided to
convene a crisis meeting among its Peace and Security Council to discuss a future peacekeeping
force in Somalia. African Union Commission leader, Jean Ping, noted that Nigeria, Burundi and
Uganda had indicated some willingness to contribute limited troops to the Somali cause.
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By the close of December 2008, as increasing blame was being placed on him for deepening the
country's political crisis, Somali President Abdullahi Yusef Ahmed resigned from office. For his
part, he placed the blame on the international community for not doing enough to bolster Somalia's
transitional government in its fight against Islamist rebels. The outgoing head of state said in an
address to parliament, "Most of the country was not in our hands and we had nothing to give our
soldiers. The international community has also failed to help us."
Meanwhile, Parliamentary Speaker Adan Mohamed Nur called for unity in the face of the
president's resignation. He also said, "I have received and accepted the resignation letter of
President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed. I congratulate the president for the bold step he has taken in
respect of the transitional federal charter." According to law, with the president's resignation
accepted, the country's parliamentary body had 30 days to elect a new president by secret ballot.
In the interim, the Parliamentary Speaker was to serve as president.
Even as Somalia's embattled transitional government was involved in its own power struggle, the
start of 2009 saw the government's nemesis -- Islamic militants -- dealing with their own battle for
supremacy. Indeed, rival Islamist groups, who control most of southern Somalia, were ensconced
in violent clashes around the town of Guriel. The violence left more than 30 people dead and
scores more injured. The internal Islamist conflict appeared to have been motivated by the
impending withdrawal of Ethiopian troops from Somalia. With a power vacuum at hand, various
Islamist wings -- hardliners and local militias -- were in a power struggle of their own as they aimed
for supremacy and influence. Notably, the Islamist group, al-Shabaab, has opposed a peace deal
with the transitional government of Somalia. Al-Shabaab was in a fight to take control of areas,
like Guriel, which were being vacated by outgoing Ethiopian troops.
On January 12, 2009, the Somali capital of Mogadishu was the site of violent clashes between
Somali government troops and Islamic insurgents. There were reports of fatalities as the Islamists
shelled the presidential palace where African Union peacekeepers were in talks with Prime Minister
Nur Hassan Hussein. Government troops responded forcefully by firing mortars, which
ultimately struck a marketplace and residential district.
According to Ethiopia's Information Ministry, as of late January 2009, about 3,000 Ethiopian
troops completed their withdrawal from Somalia two years after crossing the border to help the
embattled Somali government fight against Islamist insurgents. While Ethiopian troops appeared to
have left Mogadishu, surrounding areas, and the southern part of the country, locals in the town of
Baidoa --the seat of the transitional government -- said that Ethiopian troops remained there.
Meanwhile, despite the success of the Ethiopian troops in helping the Somali government repel the
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Islamists in 2006, in the years since that time, the religious extremist militias have regained much
strength and terrain. With fears rising that the exit of Ethiopian troops would lead to further
instability in already strife-ridden Somalia, approximately 3,400 African Union peacekeepers were
expected to operate in Somalia.
At the political level, the government and moderate Islamic groups were convening power-sharing
talks in Djibouti, aimed at expanding parliament (from 275 seats to 550) for the purpose of
including these moderate opposition forces. Also on the agenda for Somali lawmakers in
neighboring Djibouti was the election of a new president. That matter would follow the decision
to expand the size of the Somalia's Transitional Federal Parliament, in order to include former rebel
opponents, such as members of the Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia (ARS).
On January 30, 2009, the newly-expanded Somali parliament elected their new head of state.
With the ballots counted and after two rounds of voting, Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed was elected
president.
A moderate Islamist who studied at universities in Sudan and Libya, Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed
was the leader of the Union of the Islamic Courts (UIC). The UIC has been composed of clanbased Islamic Shari’a courts, which ruled large swaths of southern and central Somalia in the
second half of 2006. This movement gained ascendancy at the time when warlords were accused
of oppressing local residents, but was ousted when Ethiopian troops allied with the Somali
government against Islamist forces. Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed soon fled to Kenya but it was his
decision to split with a hard-line cleric, Sheik Hassan Dahir Aweys, that largely contributed to his
recent political foray.
Indicating his moderate credentials, President Ahmed pledged good relations with neighbors,
including Ethiopia, which helped ost him from power a few years earlier. He also pledged to end
corruption and to be inclusive during the peace process.
The new president was sworn into office and immediately traveled to Addis Ababa in Ethiopia to
take part in the 12th African Union’s Heads of State Summit.
Two weeks after Somalia welcomed its new president and head of state, Sheikh Sharif Sheikh
Ahmed,a new prime minister was selected. The new head of government, Omar Abdirashid Ali
Sharmerke, was the son of former Somali President Abdirashid Ali Shermarke who served the
country as leader in the 1960s but was assassinated only two years after coming to power. The
younger Shermarke served as Somali ambassador to the United States during the tenure of former
Somali president Abdulahi Yusuf Ahmed and worked for the United Nations in Sudan's Dafur
region. His nomination would have to be confirmed by a vote in the country’s newly enlarged
legislature.
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Assuming that process transpires as expected, Shermarke was to form a National Unity
Government, as stipulated in the power-sharing agreement between the transitional government
and the Islamist opposition faction, whose leader (Ahmed) was recently elected as president.
In April 2009, Somali pirates hijacked the Maersk Alabama in the Indian Ocean. The vessel was
destined to dock at Mombassa in Kenya and was carrying food aid destined for Somalia, Rwanda
and Uganda.
The Somali pirates, armed with guns, moved into proximity of an American vessel, the Maersk
Alabama, via a small boat. They used ropes and hooks to climb aboard the vessel and then began
demonstrating their gunfire. While the crew was able to regain control of the vessel and eventually
reach its destination, Captain Richard Phillips was taken hostage and placed on a small lifeboat
under the control of the pirates. He made one unsuccessful attempt to escape by diving into the
water but was pulled back aboard by his captors.
United States warships and a helicopter quickly moved from other locations in the region to the site
of the incident, but there was no immediate attempt to rescue Captain Phillips. Negotiators from
the Federal Bureau of Investigation were then deployed in an effort to secure the captain’s release.
Those hostage negotiations with the Somali pirates, however, soon devolved with no agreement
being forged. Some reports suggested that the sticking point in the negotiations was the United
States’ insistence that the the pirates be arrested and brought to justice.
Meanwhile, the White House was tight-lipped about the situation until the dramatic rescue was
complete. To that end, President Obama gave orders to use force to secure Captain Phillips’
release. According to reports, United States snipers were perched on the navy warship;
they opened fire, killing three of the pirates. The fourth pirate surrendered to the navy forces. With
the pirates no longer a threat, navy personnel boarded the lifeboat and discovered Captain Phillips
unharmed but bound by ropes.
United States authorities acknowledge that the dramatic rescue could well motivate the targeting of
Western vessels in region. To date, such hijackings have been relatively bloodless and aimed at
procuring hefty ransoms. But this strong response by the United States, coming on the heels of a
similarly dramatic rescue by French military of four French citizens just days before, could well
raise the proverbial stakes.
In May 2009, Somalia's capital of Mogadishu was the site of renewed bloodshed and violence.
Government forces and Islamic militants from the extremists enclaves, al-Shabab and Hisbul-Islam,
were embroiled in street combat for several consecutive days.
Somalia's President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed placed the blame for the renewed bloodshed and
violence on radical Islamists and hard-liners who were not interested in reconciliation and were
prepared to take control of the country by force. In an interview with the British Broadcasting
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Corporation (BBC), Somalia's president said: "You see that the opposition is using the violence and
killing and bloodshed, they don't want the violence in Somalia to end and the objective is to take
the country by force." Indeed, the government's decision to accept Shari'a law in Somalia has done
little to satisfy extremists Islamic militants. At the time of writing, at least 120 people were reported
to have been killed.
By May 13, 2009, radical Islamists had advanced to the edge of the presidential palace in
Mogadishu in the Wardigley district. Fighting was also reported to be taking place in the Bondere
and Karan regions to the north of the city. Some of the government troops were said to have
defected to the side of the militants, leaving remaining government troops and African Union forces
confined to a narrow strip inside the capital city.
Days later, Somalia's President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed called on Islamist insurgents to
negotiate a ceasefire as violence and fighting continued to plague the capital of Mogadishu.
President Ahmed said in an interview with the BBC, "They see it lawful to shed blood. They aim
to take over Somalia by force. We call on them to end the conflict by negotiating on our political
differences." The president also said that tens of thousands of the city's residents were being
displaced as a result of the chaos on the ground. To that end, the United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees estimated that up to 30,000 people have been forced to flee their
homes in a mere one-week period.
These assertions found no resonance with Islamists who dismissed the overture. Islamist spiritual
leader Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys, who was at one time aligned with the president, summarily
rejected the call for talks leading to a truce. Sheikh Aweys deemed the interim government and
parliament to be unacceptable to the Somali people; he also suggested that the presence of African
Union troops in Mogadishu was a sticking point for the Islamic militants. Another Islamist leader,
Omar Iman Abou Bakr, further explained that their efforts [the Islamists' fight] had been successful
and the only remaining soldiers fighting on behalf of the government were under the protection of
African Union forces, who had no mandate to pursue Islamist insurgents. Thus, from his
perspective, there was no incentive to enter negotiations.
By the end of May 2009, a senior insurgent commander who recently defected from the progovernment Islamist faction, the Islamic Courts Union (ICU), to the armed opposition Hezbul
Islam (Islamic Party), led by Sheikh Aweys, was gunned down in the streets of Mogadishu. His
death came at a time when Somali government forces and insurgent Islamist fighters were in a
bloody battle for control of the Somali capital. Then at the start of June 2009, several Somali
policemen were killed while driving in the south of Mogadishu as a result of a roadside bomb
blast. The back to back incidences of violence made clear that both sides of the conflict were
vying for domination.
Somalia's location on the north-eastern edge of Africa with the Gulf of Aden to the north
separating it from the Arabian peninsula, and the vast and highly-trafficked Indian Ocean to the
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east makes it a country of vital strategic interest on the global scene. Lawless Somalia, which is
widely regarded as a failed state, has had no functioning government since 1991. Once controlled
by warlords, Somalia is now under the governance of a weak Western-backed government, which
has been forced at times to operate outside of the capital city. Should that fragile Western-backed
interim government fall, Somalia could come under the control of Islamic extremists with ties to the
terrorist group, al-Qaida. Such a scenario would present a clear threat to global security.
Indeed, African Union (AU) envoy Nicholas Bwakira has warned that members of al-Qaida
numbering in the hundreds were among the Shabab Islamist group. Bwakira rejected the notion of
AU forces withdrawing from Somalia on this basis saying, "It would be unacceptable that
Shabab/al-Qaida take over government in Somalia. This is a group of war criminals." The United
Nations envoy to Somalia, Ahmed Ould Abdallah, has not fully endorsed this course of action. He
has advocated the removal of Somali Islamists, including Aweys, from terrorism "watch lists," in
order to further negotiations and progress on the peace process.
As alarm over the situation in Somalia increased, neighboring countries urged the United Nations to
impose a blockade on air strips and sea ports, in order to prevent the Islamists from procuring
weapons and strengthening their fighting forces. The Inter-Governmental Authority on
Development (Igad) also called on international vessels, which were charged with searching for
pirates, to enforce the blockade. Igad also identified Eritrea as a possible target for blockade as
well, charging that the country has aided Somalia Islamists in acquiring weapons and training
insurgents.
In mid-June 2009, three Somali officials were assassinated within days of one another. In one case,
politician Mohamed Hussein Addow was killed by gunmen in Mogadishu. The area Addow
represented -- the Karen district of northern Mogadishu -- had been the site of fierce fighting
between government forces and extremist Islamists for over a month. In a second case, a police
commander was killed. The most high profile assassination occurred was that of National Security
Minister Omar Hashi Aden. The cabinet minister was killed in a suicide car bomb attack as he was
leaving the Medina Hotel in central Beledweyn. A number of other government officials were
killed in the attack, including Abdelkarim Farah Laqanyo -- Somalia's former ambassador to
Ethiopia. Also among the dead were 20 more people, most of whom were locals and community
elders who were meeting the minister and the other government officials.
In an interview with the media, Somali President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed characterized the
attack as a foreign invasion of Somalia. He also publicly accused the radical Islamist group, alShabaab, of being behind the assassination of the minister who as a key member of the Somali
government had been trying to mobilize government forces to fight the growing militant Islamic
insurgency. The president's claim was not likely to become one of factual debate since the
extremist movement, al-Shabaab, which has been linked with al-Qaida quickly claimed
responsibility for the attack. Indeed, a spokesman for the group, Sheikh Ali Mohamoud Rage, said
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an al-Shabaab fighter carried out a "martyrdom operation."
It should be noted that in that time period, both al-Shabaab and Hezbul Islam were carrying out
attacks on Somali government forces and African Union peacekeepers in Mogadishu. In fact, the
day before Security Minister Aden was being assassinated, close to fifty people had died and more
than a hundred others were wounded as fierce battles ensued between Islamic militants and joint
Somali government and African Union forces. Then, on the very day of Security Minister Aden's
assassination, at least 10 people died and 20 others injured by a mortar bomb blast at a mosque in
Mogadishu. It was not known at the time of writing who was responsible for firing the mortar, but
it occurred as Islamic militants were fighting joint Somali government and African Union forces.
Further deaths occurred as shelling by government forces hit some people in the Bakara market of
Mogadishu.
Commenting on the situation unfolding in Somalia, an official from the United Nations warned that
Mogadishu was experiencing the worst violence and bloodshed in close to two decades of conflict
and chaos. But whereas neighboring Ethiopia had been willing to help quell the violence and aid
the government forces in repelling the Islamists in the past, it was no longer so willing to enter the
fray. Indeed, Ethiopia made clear that it would not provide Somalia with military support in the
fight against extremist Islamist insurgents, explaining that any military intervention would require
some sort of international mandate.
In mid-July 2009, two French hostages who were seized in Mogadishu were said to be held in
captivity by Islamic militants from the al-Shabaab movement. The two French nationals, who had
been working as security advisors to the government of President Sheikh Sharif, were taken
hostage when gunmen stormed a hotel in Mogadishu. Reports suggested that their capture had
been facilitated by a faction of the government's security team who were sympathetic to the
Islamist insurgents.
In late July 2009, Islamist militants from Somalia's al Shabaab enclave reportedly looted two
United Nations compounds in Baidoa and Wajid. These actions occurred after al-Shabaab, which
has been linked to al-Qaida, warned that it would shut down three United Nations agencies
operating in the Horn of Africa. The Islamist militants accused the United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP), United Nations Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) and United
Nations Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS) of being against Somali Muslims and working in
opposition to al-Shabaad's agenda of establishing an Islamic state. The hardline Islamist insurgent
enclave has held sway over most of southern Somalia and parts of the capital Mogadishu in recent
times. For its part, the United Nations said that its expatriate staff in Baidoa would be evacuated to
neighboring Kenya, but that operations in Wajid would continue as usual. As well, the United
Nations' top humanitarian official, John Holmes, promised that humanitarian aid workers would
not abandon Somalia even in the face of such threats and in the aftermath of the looting.
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United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton held talks with Somali President Sheikh Sharif
Sheikh Ahmed in Kenya's capital, Nairobi, during an African tour in August 2009. The United
States' chief diplomat said that her country was interested in a stable Somalia. She also blamed
Eritrea for backing Islamist rebels, known as al-Shabab, which has the expressed objective of
overthrowing the government of Somalia. To these ends, Secretary of State Clinton said: "
Certainly if al-Shabab were to obtain a haven in Somalia which could then attract al-Qaida and
other terrorist actions, it would be a threat to the United States." She continued, "It is long past
time for Eritrea to cease and desist its support of al-Shabab and to start being a productive rather
than a destabilizing neighbor. Accordingly, Secretary of State Clinton warned that the United
States would take action against Eritrea if it did not cease its support for the extremist Islamist
militants in Somalia. She said: "We are making it very clear that their actions are unacceptable. We
intend to take action if they do not cease."
Of course, such action would not include the deployment of United States forces to Somalia to
fight the militant insurgents there. However, Agence France Presse reported that the United States
would double its supply of arms and ammunition to Somalia. In this way, the United States was
effectively admitting that it has supplied pro-government forces in Somalia with weaponry in recent
times.
On the other side of the equation, Eritrea has denied supporting Somalia's al-Shabab militants, and
characterized the United States' accusations as a "fabrication."
Nevertheless, there was evidence that several Somali militant Islamist groups carried out their
operations from inside Eritrean territory after they were driven by joint government and Ethiopian
troops from the Somali capital of Mogadishu in 2006. The history of animosity between Ethiopia
and Eritrea indicates that the two countries may have been carrying out a proxy war on Somali
territory. While Ethiopia has been reluctant to re-enter the fray as of 2009, Clinton's accusations
suggest that the United States believes Eritrea to be playing a continuing role in the chaos that has
bedeviled Somalia.
Later in August 2009, the government of Somalia called on militant Islamist insurgents to join with
them in participating in a ceasefire during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. The militants
Islamists adamantly rejected the government's call for a Ramadan ceasefire and said that President
Sheikh Sharif Ahmed was using religion to obfuscate his own military strategy. Specifically, they
accused the president of trying to secure time and opportunity to re-arm his own troops.
Meanwhile, the country was embroiled in some of the bloodiest fighting seen in Mogadishu in
several months with thousands of people being forced to flee their homes. But in a rare show of
good news in Somalia, one of the two French security advisers who were abducted by insurgents a
month prior managed to kill three of his captors and make an escape.
Fighting in Mogadishu during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan was reported to be the worst in
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20 years. In the first week of September 2009, more than 30 civilians died, according to a human
rights group in the Somali capital. The Elman Peace and Human Rights Organization said that 18
women and seven children were among the dead and 82 civilians were injured in that narrow
period of time. The group said that the victims were caught in the crossfire f violence between
African Union peacekeepers and extremist Islamist insurgents. Somalia has become a strategic
flashpoint due to its status as a failed state in the Horn of Africa -- fertile terrain for terrorist
groups, such as al-Qaida, to operate with impunity.
Later in September 2009, United States special forces killed one of east Africa's most wanted alQaida militants in southern Somalia. Kenyan-born Saleh Ali Saleh Nabhan was suspected of a
number of terror-related crimes, such as building a truck bomb that killed 15 people at a Kenyan
hotel in 2002, as well as involvement in a botched missile launch targeting an Israeli airliner leaving
Mombasa's airport. Members of a Somali militia opposed to the Islamist insurgent enclave, alShabaab, lauded the operation and called for more strikes against foreign jihadists. On the other
side of the equation, Islamist extremists claimed responsibility for a double suicide attack on
peacekeepers in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, which killed at least 16 people. Among the dead
was the deputy commander of the African Union force operating in Somalia. Reports suggested
that the suicide bombers used vehicles with United Nations logos to enter the peacekeeping base,
where the explosives-laden vehicles were then detonated. Al-Shabaab said that attacks were in
retaliation for the aforementioned killing of Saleh Ali Saleh Nabhan.
On Oct. 22, 2009, more than 30 people died and 70 were injured in Mogadishu during shelling
between Islamic militants and troops from the African Union Mission. Most of the casualties were
noted at the Bakara market. Reports from the ground indicated that the shelling began close to the
international airport of Aden Adde -- an African Union troop base -- after joint government and
African Union troops blocked a major highway in Mogadishu. The move was made in order to
protect Somali President Sharif Sheik Ahmed, who was headed to the airport to travel to Uganda
to attend the African Summit. The incident was later identified as an attempted assassination
attempt on the president. Less than a week later, another attack on the president was attempted as
he returned to Mogadishu.
The leading United Nations envoy for Somalia condemned those responsible for the assassination
attempts on the life of President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed. United Nations Special Representative for
Somalia, Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, excoriated extremist Islamists for terrorizing the Somali
people. He condemned them for resorting to political assassinations and the killing of innocent
civilians -- including women and children -- in a bid to gain power, and warned that such a path
was anti-Islamic.
On Dec. 3, 2009, a terror attack on a hotel in the Somali capital of Mogadishu left at least 50
people dead including nine students, a lecturer, several government ministers and a number of
journalists. Scores of civilians and government officials were injured as well. The attack occurred
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during a graduation ceremony for the Banadir University at the Shamo Hotel in southern
Mogadishu. Somali officials confirmed that Higher Education Minister Ibrahim Hassan Adow,
Health Minister Qamar Aden Ali, and lecturer, Mohamed Aden Shahiid, were among the victims.
Meanwhile, the Shabelle Media Network confirmed that one of its reporters, Mohamed Amin
Aden Abdulle, had been killed along with an al-Arabiya television photographer, Hassan Zubeyr
Haji.
The international community reacted with furor at the terror attack, manifest most ostensibly by
the strong condemnation by the United Nations Security Council. A presidential statement from
that body read as follows: "We condemn in the strongest terms the killing of innocent civilians and
three Somali government ministers." The statement also read, "This was a criminal attack on
people dedicated to building a peaceful, stable and prosperous future for the people of Somalia."
The United Nations Security Council also called for a "thorough investigation" into the act of
terrorism, demanded that opposition groups lay down their arms and end renounce violence, and
also convened a special meeting to mull over possible actions to be taken in response. For his
part, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon issued his own condemnation and noted that
such attacks would only augment the determination of the Somali transitional government and the
people of Somalia to fight terrorism in the interests of security.
Recent Developments
The start of 2010 was marked by further violence in Somalia. At least 50 people were killed and
more than 100 were injured during clashes between pro-government forces and militant Islamists in
the central Somali town of Dhuusa Marreeb. While pro-government forces were reported to have
retaken control over the town, the al-Shabab Islamist extremists nonetheless held control of the
town for a few hours. The power struggle, as noted here, left a lengthy casualty list. That said,
one of the central featured of this particular clash was the fact that it ensued between al-Shabab
and the pro-government Ahlu Sunna group, which was initially formed as a non-violent moderate
Islamic faction but which in 2009 decided to take up arms against al-Shabab.
In the second week of February 2010, fighting wracked Somalia's capital of Mogadishu as
government forces backed by African Union (AU) peacekeepers against militant Islamist rebels.
Scores of casualties were reported and hundreds of people attempted to flee the crossfire of
violence. The fighting occurred after militant Islamist fighters launched mortar rounds at
government and AU forces based in Mogadishu, prompting a volley of heavy shelling. The clash
was being regarded as a harbinger of imminent confrontation between the two sides as the alShabaab group -- long believed to be aligned with the notorious terror base al-Qaida -- moved into
Mogadishu with an apparent objective to reinforce its positions ahead of an expected offensive by
government forces. While the Somali authorities have denied that such an offensive operation
against militant Islamist insurgents was in the works, the general consensus was that such action
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was in the offing.
On March 10, 2010, violent clashes between Somali government forces and militant Islamist alShabaab rebels in the north of Mogadishu left close to 20 people dead and scores more wounded.
In a separate incident, two employees of a telecommunications company were reported to have
been beheaded by al-Shabaab militants. The two victims were accused by al-Qaida, which is allied
with al-Shabaab, of spying on behalf of the government. For its part, the aforementioned
government's claim that it would carry out an offensive operation against the militant Islamist
rebels was yet to be realized despite an increase in attacks and violence.
Meanwhile, a report by the United Nations refugee agency noted that since the start of the year,
increasing violence in Somalia has resulted in the displacement of more than 100,000 Somalis.
On May 23, 2010, extremists Islamist Al-Shabab militants attacked Somalia's presidential palace in
Mogadishu. The militants fired mortars at the palace, prompting government forces backed by
African Union (AU) peacekeepers to return fire, effectively spurring violent clashes that led to the
deaths of several people. A spokesman for the AU peacekeeping mission, Major Barigye Ba-hoku,
explained the decision to engage the extremist Islamic militants with ties to the notorious terrorist
enclave, al-Qaida, saying, "People need to understand what our mandate is - we are here to
protect the transitional federal institutions of Somalia and we also have red lines." For his part,
President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed was out of the country in Turkey -- ironically attending a peace
conference -- and was thusly not affected by the attack. In Turkey, United Nation Secretary
General Ban Ki-moon was calling on donors to show support for President Ahmed and the fragile
interim government of Somalia.
On July 11, 2010, scores of people died in double explosions in the Ugandan capital of Kampala.
Local Ugandans as well as foreigners were among the victims. Ugandan police said the bombs
exploded at a rugby club and at a restaurant as football fans watched the final match of the World
Cup. In an interview with Agence France Press, Inspector General of Police Kal Kayihura said,
"These bombs were definitely targeting World Cup crowds."
While there was no conclusive information about those behind the attacks, Police Chief Kaihura
expressed the view that Somalia's extremist Islamic militia — al-Shabab, which has been linked
with al-Qaida -- may have been to blame. Indeed, the feared Somali militants certainly made
threats against Kampala, perhaps because of the fact that Ugandan troops were deployed in
Mogadishu. Only days earlier, al-Shabab commander, Sheik Muktar Robow, demanded that
militants attack venues in Uganda and Burundi since both countries have contributed troops to the
African Union force in Mogadishu. Meanwhile, another al-Shabab commander, Sheik Yusuf Sheik
Issa, refused to confirm or deny his group's role in the Kampala twin bombings but expressed
happiness that they occurred at all. During an interview with the Associated Press, he said,
"Uganda is one of our enemies. Whatever makes them cry, makes us happy. May Allah's anger be
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upon those who are against us."
With all available indications suggesting that Somali-based al-Shabab was responsible for the
attacks, the group itself removed doubt by claiming responsibility for what appeared to be its first
terror attack outside Somalia's borders. For its part, the Obama administration in the United States
pledged help to track down those responsible. At the same time, the United States Department of
States made it clear that it was focused on al-Shabab as a threatening entity with global jihadist
aspirations. As well, it pointed to Executive Order 13536, signed by United States President Barack
Obama, which was intended to block the finances of militant extremist Islamists in Somalia deemed
to be a threat to the peace process in that country.
On Aug. 23, 2010, extremist Islamic militants from the al-Qaida allied group, al-Shabab, carried out
an offensive at a hotel located close to the presidential palace in Mogadishu. The gunmen, who
were disguised as soldiers, stormed the Muna hotel, opened fire, and at least one detonated the
explosives attached to his body. More than 30 people died as a result of the brutal attack, including
six members of parliament. The Muna hotel was popular with government officials due to its
location in a government-controlled area; a successful attack on this target would therefore be
regarded as a success for the extremist Islamic terrorists trying to take control over Somalia, which
is already regarded as one of the world's failed states.
But al-Shabab's ambitions are not limited only to Somalia, given its successful execution of two
deadly bombings in Uganda in July 2010. In the cases of those twin bombings, al-Shabab claimed
that it was seeking revenge for Uganda's participation in African Union peacekeeping operations in
chaos-ridden Somalia. Clearly, these recent attacks indicate an increasingly jihadist orientation of
the terror enclave, in which attacks do not stop at the national borders. For its part, al-Shabab
claimed responsibility, noting that its "special forces" unit had carried out the massacre, which
came a day after heavy fighting broke out on Somalia between al-Shabab and government troops.
On September 9, 2010, an attack on Mogadishu's airport by suicide bombers left two African
Union (AU) peacekeepers and several civilians dead. Blame was quickly cast on militant extremist
Islamist rebels, known as al-Shabab, who have been linked with the notorious terror enclave, alQaida. Since August 2010, militants from al-Shabab have been vowing to intensify their efforts to
crush Somalia's Western-backed administration. Indeed, as noted above, they carried out an
audacious attack on a Mogadishu hotel, targeting members of parliament in August 2010. Earlier,
they even executed deadly bombings outside their own borders in Uganda, with the objective in the
case being revenge on that country for contributing peacekeepers to the AU mission in Somalia.
For its part, the interim government condemned the militants for their actions. In a statement, the
government asserted: "Al Shabab has ignored the president's plea to allow the people of Mogadishu
to celebrate the holy month of Ramadan in peace. They offer nothing but terror, intimidation and
the defiling of our culture."
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By mid-September 2010, al-Shabab was making good on its promise to intensify its offensive
against Somalia’s fragile Western-backed government. The extremist Islamists had fired mortar
rounds into Somalia's government complex on Thursday, leaving three soldiers dead and wounding
at least one member of parliament and several more soldiers. The assault the spurred a counterattack by joint government and African Union troops, ultimately killing more than a dozen and
wounding 40 more -- all of whom were caught in the crossfire of the violence. The attack
occurred while parliament was in session, aiming to pass a motion ahead of a vote of confidence.
It should be noted that conflict was breaking out between factions of the government with
legislators accusing the country's transitional government of failing to foster peace between the
country's warring factions. Indeed, the situation seemed emblematic of the ongoing feud between
Somali President Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed and Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke.
The latest flare-up appeared to have been spurred by disagreement over the country's draft
constitution. While the president wanted the document ratified by referendum, the prime minister
preferred to have the document passed by parliament and civil society representatives.
The political struggle reached its nadir on September 21, 2010 when Somalia's prime minister
resigned from office, noting that he was "unable to work with the president." Omar Abdirashid Ali
Sharmarke said he was stepping down in the national interest, according to BBC News.
Explaining his rationale, Sharmarke said, "After seeing that the political turmoil between me and the
president has caused security vulnerability, I have decided to resign to save the nation and give a
chance to others."
The political turmoil erupted at a time when the already-grim security situation in Somalia was on a
precipitous and disturbing downward slide. Government-backed forces remained embroiled in a
violent struggle with the extremist Islamist enclave al-Shabab for control over the capital city of
Mogadishu. Already, the al-Qaida aligned militants held control over large swaths of southern and
central Somalia. Analysts suggested that the dissonance between the president and prime
minister was exploited by al-Shabab militants. Thus, the resignation by Prime Minister Sharmarke
could be a blow to al-Shabab, if the factions of the transitional government opted for unity in the
face of the threat by militants.
That being said, there was no immediate effect on the security situation in the immediate aftermath
of the prime minister's resignation. Indeed, September 23, 2010 saw violent clashes between progovernment troops and al-Shabab militants ensue across the capital city of Mogadishu. The
extremist Islamists indiscriminately lobbed rocket-propelled grenades across Mogadishu and
opened fire using machine guns, ultimately leaving around two dozen people dead and injuring
scores more. Most of the casualties -- including women and children -- occurred in the area of the
Bakara marketplace. Pro-government forces composed of soldiers and African Union
peacekeepers attempted to repel the militants, who declared they were now in a "new war" against
the fragile transitional government of Somalia. Al-Shabab explained the objective of this "new
war" as follows: "To eliminate the invading Christians and their apostate government."
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By October 7, 2010, African Union (AU) peacekeeping forces were reported to be making
progress in their fight against al-Shabab militants in Mogadishu. In fact, the AU envoy to Somalia,
Wafula Wamunyinyi, said in an interview with the BBC that AU forces were now in control of
about 40 percent of Mogadishu. Wamunyinyi said that AU forces had taken control of several new
positions in the capital city. Previously, government-allied forces held sway only over select
portions of Mogadishu, such as the presidential palace, airport and harbor. Now, apparently,
government-allied forces were able to cut off al-Shabab from the busy Bakara marketplace. Some
of this success was attributed to growing schisms within the broader base of Islamist militants.
Around the same time, the AU was reportedly calling for increased funding aimed at increasing its
presence in Somalia. Au forces charged with backing the fragile transitional government of
Somalia amounted to 6,000 in mid-2010; the regional bloc was aiming to increase its foothold in
Somalia to around 20,000 troops. Given the attack on Uganda by al-Shabab, in retaliation for
Ugandan troops operating under the aegis of the AU in Somalia, it was unlikely that many African
countries would give positive responses to this request.
Returning to the political realm, on September 24, 2010, Somali President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh
Ahmed named Abdiwahid Elmi Gonjeh to be the country's interim prime minister. Abdiwahid Elmi
Gonjeh had served as deputy prime minister and cabinet minister in the government of nowresigned Prime Minister Sharmarkeh. Then, on October 14, 2010, President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh
Ahmed named Mohamed Abdulahi Mohamed as the new -- and permanent -- prime minister.
Mohamed -- a political novice who spent much of his life in the United States -- was expected to
quickly form a new government of national unity. He was sworn into office on November 1, 2010
and after the inauguration ceremony vowed to uphold the laws of the land, form a government of
national unity, and work diligently on the country's security. economic, and political problems.
On February 21, 2011, a suicide car bomb left at least ten people dead and more than 25 people
injured at a police training camp in the Somali capital city of Mogadishu. Most of the victims
appeared to be police officers. The militant extremist Islamist group, al-Shabab, wasted no time in
claiming responsibility for the attack. Al-Shabab, which already held sway over most of southern
Somalia, has been in a bitter and brutal fight with the forces of the interim government forces for
full control over Mogadishu. For its part, Somalia's fragile transitional government, which has
control over only parts of Mogadishu, condemned the attack. In other developments, the African
Union peacekeeping mission announced that it would soon launch fresh military operations in
Mogadishu, with the objective of improving the security situation there.
On June 10, 2011, Somali Interior Minister Abdi Shakur Sheikh Hassan was killed in a suicide
attack at his home in the capital of Mogadishu. The suicide bomber was identified by Somali
officials as the cabinet minister's own niece who reportedly joined the militant Islamic group, alShabad, which has terror ties to al-Qaida. Because the young women -- a relative -- had been to
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visit the cabinet minister before, she was not subject to security checks and was able to enter the
home and immediately detonate the explosives strapped to her body. Al-Shabab confirmed it was
behind the killing and promised further attacks would follow. Indeed, in the weeks leading up to
Hassan's killing, there had been a number of suicide attacks in Mogadishu. That being said, over
all, al-Shabab has been reported to have lost territory in recent months as Somali troops, backed by
African Union soldiers, have managed to push back the militant Islamist movement.
The scenario unfolded even as an agreement was signed in Uganda to postpone elections in the
country. Initially scheduled to be held before August 2011, now -- according to the Kampala
Accord -- the elections for president and speaker would be held on Aug. 20, 2012. There was no
mention in the Kampala Accord of parliamentary elections. In the interim, the current cabinet
under Somali Prime Minister Mohamed Abdullahi would be dissolved and a new government
would be formed. The extension of President Sharif's power did not find positive resonance
among some quarters, with politicians and the public railing against the news and characterizing the
move as unconstitutional. Protests took hold in Somalia as a result, with a number of deaths
reported.
Clearly, by the middle of 2011, Somalia continued to be plagued by violence as a result of the
conflict between the fragile government and Islamists from al-Shabab, which was aligned with the
terror enclave, al-Qaida. It should be noted, though, that the country was also dealing with political
challenges.
The death of a Somali cabinet minister at the hands of his niece -- an al-Shabab adherent -unfolded even as an agreement was signed in Uganda to postpone elections in the country. Initially
scheduled to be held before August 2011, now -- according to the Kampala Accord -- the elections
for president and speaker would be held on Aug. 20, 2012. There was no mention in the Kampala
Accord of parliamentary elections. In the interim, the current cabinet under Somali Prime Minister
Mohamed Abdullahi would be dissolved and a new government would be formed. The extension
of President Sharif's power did not find positive resonance among some quarters, with politicians
and the public railing against the news and characterizing the move as unconstitutional. Protests
took hold in Somalia as a result, with a number of deaths reported.
By the third week of June 2011, Somali Prime Minister Mohamed Abdullahi -- also known as
Farmajo -- resigned from his post in the wake of an agreement forged between the president and
the parliament to force him from office. For his part, Farmajo resisted calls for his resignation and
appeared to have the support of some swaths of the Somali public; however, with limited ability to
shift the situation politically in his favor, he announced that he was stepping down. The outgoing
head of government said, "Considering the interest of the Somali people and the current situation in
Somalia, I have decided to leave my office. I would like to thank my cabinet who have done a lot
to help improve security and standards of governance in Somalia." The exit of Mohamed
Abdullahi was part of a United Nations-backed agreement that would extend the mandates of
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President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, Parliamentary Speaker Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aden, and members
of parliament, to August 2012.
The new acting prime minister was named as Abdiweli Mohamed Ali, who had worked in the
capacity of Minister of Planning and International Cooperation. A technocrat with multiple
graduate degrees from some of the best universities in the United States, Abdiweli Mohamed Ali
would be charged with trying to revive Somalia's war-ravaged economy and lead the effort to
improve national security.
In August 2011, as Somalia grappled with a crippling famine and drought crisis, the Islamist militant
group, al-Shabab, withdrew from the capital city of Mogadishu. Al-Shabab -- which is allied with
the notorious terror enclave al-Qaida -- has been carrying out a violent insurgency for several
years and won control over significant swaths of the country's territory. However, military gains
have been simultaneous with an increasing food and drought crisis that has gripped the country.
Indeed, the hard line tactics of al-Shabab included preventions on access to humanitarian aid for
people most affected by the lack of access to food and water. It should be noted that even with its
exit from Mogadishu, al-Shabab yet controlled southern and central Somalia -- the two areas
hardest-hit by the famine and drought.
African Union peacekeepers in Somalia, tasked with trying to maintain some semblance of security
in a failed state beset by lawlessness, have called for thousands more troops to be deployed to this
country. Major General Fred Mugisha of the African Union said that even with the official exit of
al-Shabab, there were remnants of the extremist group still in the city. Indeed, after announcing a
withdrawal, al-Shabab launched double attacks on Mogadishu. Major General Mugisha warned
that there remained a grave threat to stability in Mogadishu and there was a particular need to
protect valuable and much-needed food aid. He added that al-Shabab could well turn to guerrilla
warfare in Mogadishu, including carrying out suicide bombings.
Earlier, in 2010, the United Nations Security Council approved peacekeeping forces from the
African Union to be deployed to Somalia numbering 12,000. The African Union has argued that it
needed up to 20,000 troops. Now in 2011, the United Nations special envoy to Somalia, Augustine
Mahiga, appeared to give sanction to this position, noting that he backed the notion of more
African Union troops in Somalia.
On Aug. 23, 2011 at a rally attended by thousands of Somalis who were celebrating the withdrawal
of al-Shabab fighters, Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali praised the Somali people for their
support of the country's national army and African Union soldiers, who together have fought alShabab. He said, "I am pleased to participate in your celebrations of the liberation of our city from
the forces of terror, fear, violence and darkness." The prime minister also promised that the
government would be committed to increase security and restore some of the social services that
were devastated during the war over the years.
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Note: On the issue of the famine and drought, Aug. 8, 2011, saw the arrival in Mogadishu of the
first humanitarian airlift from the United Nations refugee agency in five years. The food and
drought crisis has affected not only Somalia but other countries in the Horn of Africa including
Kenya, Ethiopia, Djibouti and Uganda.
On Oct. 4, 2011, a massive suicide truck bombing in the Somali capital city of Mogadishu left
more than 80 people dead and more than 50 others injured, while destroying a building that
housed eight government ministries. According to eyewitness accounts, a truck laden with
explosives drove up to a checkpoint gate at the government compound before being detonated. No
government officials were hurt, with most of the victims being soldiers guarding the premises and
students who were waiting outside the government's Ministry of Education for results of their
examinations.
Without delay, the Islamist militant group, al-Shabab, claimed responsibility for the attack, which
was the first significant act of violence since al-Shabab initially withdrew its forces from Mogadishu
in August 2011. Weeks prior, al-Shabab carried out a failed attempt to seize two towns along the
border with Kenya from pro-government forces. That being said, this October 2011 attack on the
government compound in Mogadishu was a case of a successful act of terrorism by al-Shabab.
Indeed, the attack made it clear that the exit of al-Shabab from the capital did not mean an end to
the violence and chaos plaguing the failed nation state of Somalia. To that end, the United Nationsbacked transitional government condemned the attack while noting, "The attack shows that the
danger from terrorists is not yet over and that there are obviously still people who want to derail
the advances that the Somali people have made towards peace."
In the latter part of October 2011, in the aftermath of a terror attack in the Somali capital, African
Union (AU) forces were claiming that they had driven al-Shabab out of Mogadishu. Major
General Fred Mugisha of the AU said in an interview with the BBC: "[Transitional Federal
Government of Somalia] forces, supported by Amisom (the African Union Mission in Somalia) -we have managed to push out al-Shabab from Mogadishu main city. As I am talking to you, we
control the whole of Mogadishu main city, yes." Of course, even if this claim proved to be
sustainable, al-Shabab militants still retained presence in the outlying district of Daynile and held
sway over large swathes of south and central Somalia. Ironically, in August 2011, Major General
Fred Mugisha of the African Union at the helm of peacekeeping forces operating in Somalia, had
warned that al-Shabab could well turn to guerrilla warfare in Mogadishu, including the use of
suicide bombings. Clearly, with a terror attack hitting Mogadishu, that dire warning was now
coming to pass.
By the start of November 2011, a top envoy for the United Nations to Somalia asserted that AU
troops, indeed, had control over Mogadishu. United Nations Special Representative and Head of
the United Nations Political Office for Somalia, Augustine Mahiga, said that soldiers for the AU
Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) had taken charge over Mogadishu as the Islamist terror militia
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changed tactics and moved to unconventional guerrilla warfare. Mahiga said, "Two months after alShabaab withdrew from Mogadishu and turned into a guerrilla outfit, our control of the city sprang
from 45 percent to total command, with only a small corner remaining that we will soon overrun."
Mahiga, speaking at a news conference in the Kenyan capital in Nairobi, also said that the United
Nations fully supported a recent Kenyan incursion into southern Somalia (discussed below), which
was aimed at pursuing the terror enclave. Indeed, only weeks prior, suspicion was cast on
Somalia's al-Shabab in relation to a nightclub grenade attack in Kenyan capital. Mahiga made of
point of noting that while the United Nations backed Kenya's action, there were no plans for a
convergence of forces in fighting the common threat posed by al-Shabab. That said, the AMISOM
troops would be re-oriented to deal with the al-Qaida proxy group's unconventional warfare
tactics. Mahiga also made mention of the civilian victims -- about 100 in total -- who had died
from the new scourge of suicide attacks.
On Dec. 6, 2011, a suicide car bomb killed at least five people, including a Somali policeman and
the suicide bomber, in Somalia's capital city of Mogadishu. According to reports on the ground,
the bomb exploded just as the car was being searched by police at a busy junction in Mogadishu.
In fact, the driver admitted to carrying explosives in his vehicle, and chose to detonate them as
police were investigating the matter. With the extremist Islamist militant group al-Shabab's history
of launching suicide bombings in Mogadishu, all suspicion in this case rested on the group, which is
allied with the terror enclave, al-Qaida. This attack made clear that although al-Shabab made a
"tactical withdrawal" from Mogadishu -- while continuing to hold sway in the southern and central
parts of the country -- it was clearly still capable of staging attacks in the Somali capital.
Foreign Forces Target Al-Shabab
In the autumn of 2011, Kenyan military forces along with allied Somali troops launched an
offensive against al-Shabab, the Islamist extremist enclave based in Somalia, which has
increasingly operated as a proxy terror group for al-Qaida. The action was in reaction to the
violence and terrorism carried out by militant terror group not only in Somalia but in other
countries. Indeed, al-Shabab was suspected of being behind a number of violent attacks, killings,
and kidnappings in Kenya in recent times, seemingly in retaliation for Kenya's involvement in the
African Union mission in Somalia aimed at stabilizing the failed state.
The assault went on for weeks, included air strikes by Kenyan forces, and yielded a number of
deaths. The air assault was aimed at eliminating al-Shabab strongholds and a number of apparent
Islamist terrorist training camps, as well as stopping the transfer of arms to al-Shabab militants.
Kenya argued that its action was necessary and that al-Shabab's actions made al-Shabab-controlled
areas "legitimate targets.” Hundreds of civilians in the conflict zone were fleeing the area to escape
the aerial bombardment.
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At the start of November 2011, Kenya and Somalia found concurrence on a joint war strategy
targeting al-Shabab. The leaders of the two countries -- Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga and
Somali Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali agreed on a war strategy to coordinate their assaults
on al-Shabab strongholds of Somalia.
Earlier, there had been some rumblings from the Somalian leadership that Kenyan should not have
sent troops into its terroritory to fight alp-Shabab, prompting all parties to seek clarification. Now
making it clear that the plan was a joint effort and that the Somalian government endorsed Kenya's
involvement, Abdiweli Mohamed Ali said in an interview with the media: “There is no discord
within the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) leadership. The President of Somalia is aware
that I am here to discuss the security operation with the Kenyan government." He continued, “It is
necessary for us to have a common strategy against the al-Shabab." For his part, Raila Odinga
explained that Kenya was compelled to take action against al-Sahab, saying, “This was a reaction
to a situation that was becoming intolerable." He added, “Nobody knows how long and where it
was going to end. We want to see a stable civilian authority in Somalia, we want to help Somalia to
stabilize.”
Raila Odinga and Abdiweli Mohamed Ali urged the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM)
to deploy troops in towns that had been taken over by Kenyan troops. Somali and Kenyan
officials had apparently agreed that Somali forces would take charge in the operation. The two
leaders also advocated the development of local administrations and infrastructure in newly
liberated towns -- presumably to offer fresh opportunities to beleaguered people living in those
undeveloped areas, which traditionally are ripe for terrorist recruitment. Furthermore, they called
on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to immediately investigate the al-Shabaab for war
crimes. In fact, they said that the TFG of Somalia would immediately seek assistance from the
ICC in this effort, with the objective being international indictments for al-Shabab fighters alleged
to be war criminals.
On Nov. 19, 2011, reports emerged about convoys of vehicles carrying Ethiopians troops across
the border into Somalia. Eyewitness accounts confirmed the presence of Ethiopian soldiers in
various Somali towns. It should be noted that Ethiopian soldiers had operated in Somalia, with the
purpose of backing the fragile government of Somalia against the militant Islamist group, alShabab, for about three years, before finally withdrawing in 2009.
For their part, Ethiopian authorities denied that their forces were involved in any incursion into
Somalia in November 2011, maintaining that their soldiers have not been in Somalia in significant
numbers since 2009. Of course, the characterization "in significant numbers" lent some confusion
to the situation. That confusion was not helped by the statement made by a Somali member of
parliament that the presence of Ethiopian troops was necessary in the fight against al-Shabab.
In the background of the news that Ethiopian troops might be in Somalia was the fact that Kenyan
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troops were now in Somalia to fight against the threat posed by al-Shabab. Indeed, since October
2011, Kenyan military forces along with allied Somali troops have been carrying out an offensive
against al-Shabab, the Islamist extremist enclave based in Somalia, which has increasingly
operated as a proxy terror group for al-Qaida. The action was in reaction to the violence and
terrorism carried out by militant terror group not only in Somalia but in other countries. Indeed, alShabab was suspected of being behind a number of violent attacks, killings, and kidnappings in
Kenya in recent times, seemingly in retaliation for Kenya's involvement in the African Union
mission in Somalia aimed at stabilizing the failed state. Now though, Kenya had joined forced with
Somalia to go after al-Shabab. Indeed, by the start of December 2011, Kenya was saying that as
many as 40 al-Shabab militants had been killed in a battle in the southern town of Hawo.
At the close of 2011, it was reported that Ethiopian forces had captured the central Somali town of
Beledweyne from al-Shabab Islamist militants. Eyewitnesses on the ground observed that both
armored vehicles and heavy artillery were used in the assault on al-Shabab militants in
Beledweyne. A lengthy battle between about 3,000 Ethiopian troops and al-Shabab fighters
followed, ultimately ending in the withdrawal of the Islamic militants from the strategically-located
town along the road to Somalia's capital of Mogadishu.
Somali Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali confirmed the news of Beledweyne's capture,
saying, "Early this morning, the Somali National Army recaptured some al-Shabab-occupied
territories engaging the enemies in Hiiraan and other regions of the country." He said that the
operation was aimed at liberating the country from "the tyranny of al-Shabab." Meanwhile,
Ethiopian authorities confirmed the involvement of its country's troops, saying that the assault was
carried out at the behest of the Somali government. This confirmation reinforced reports a month
earlier that convoys of vehicles carrying Ethiopians troops had moved across the border into
Somalia.
It should be noted that Ethiopian soldiers had operated in Somalia, with the purpose of backing the
fragile government of Somalia against the militant Islamist group, al-Shabab, for about three years,
before finally withdrawing in 2009. Now, at the start of 2012, it was apparent that there was the
resumption of some military engagement by Ethiopian troops in Somalia once again, with an eye
on repelling al-Shabab.
As the year 2012 began, Ethiopian and Kenyan troops continued to operate in Somalia. The
forces from Ethiopia and Kenya were carrying out an offensive against al-Shabab, the Islamist
extremist enclave based in Somalia, which has increasingly operated as a proxy terror group for alQaida.
In the first week of January 2012, the Kenyan army announced that it had eliminated 60 Somali alShabab militia fighters in air strikes in Garbaharey in southern Somalia's Gedo region. Kenyan
authorities also said that their forces were and determined to "break their [al-Shabab's] spine
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completely." Despite a number of defections from al-Shabab fighters, the power base of the
Islamist extremist movement said that it would repel the Kenyan troops.
As January 2012 entered its final week, African Union (AU) forces launched a major offensive
against al-Shabab Islamists in Somalia. The operation targeted the Somali capital of Mogadishu
and aimed to seize territory from al-Shabab. To that end, about one thousand AU troops were able
to capture three al-Shabab bases and were advancing on Mogadishu. Pro-government forces were
reported to have taken control of both Mogadishu University and Barakat cemetery, as AU forces
advanced northward following a period of heavy fighting. Nevertheless, on Jan. 19, 2012, a
suicide attack at a refugee camp in the capital left several people dead, including a security guard
and a local aid worker.
On Feb. 18, 2012, Kenya's military said that it made further advances in an effort to quell alShabab. Specifically, Kenya's Defense Forces said that it liberated a total of 95,000 square
kilometers of Southern Somalia from the al-Shabab. Accordingly, its operation could well be
described as something of a success.
Since the autumn of 2011, as discussed here, Kenyan military forces, along with allied Somali
troops, have been carrying out an offensive against al-Shabab, the Islamist extremist enclave based
in Somalia. The action was aimed at eliminating al-Shabab strongholds, apparent Islamist terrorist
training camps, as well as stopping the transfer of arms to al-Shabab militants; the action was
motivated by the regime of violence being carried out by the militant terror group not only in
Somalia but in other countries. .
It should be noted that although al-Shabab made a strategic exit from the Somali capital of
Mogadishu months prior, it still held sway over large swaths of Somalia and had shifted its focus to
carrying out terrorist attacks, rather than more conventional warfare, in the Mogadishu area.
That being said, al-Shabab has been under intensifying pressure from a number of fronts. In
addition to the troops from Kenya, there have also been African Union troops operating in
Somalia to offer support to government forces, as well as troops from Ethiopia and most recently
Djibouti additionally working in Somalia towards the same goal of repelling al-Shabab. Of
course, the presence of foreign troops in Somalia could prove to be a controversial matter, even
contributing to further instability in a country that can only be classified as a failed state. Indeed,
al-Shabab declared that the presence of Kenyan troops in Somalia was to be regarded as an act of
war. Moreover, as of February 2012, as discussed below, al-Shabab went from operating as a
proxy terror group for al-Qaida, to officially joined the ranks of al-Shabab.
Special Entry: Al-Shabab Officially Joins Jihadist Terror Network
On Feb. 10, 2012, al-Shabab of Somalia -- the extremist Islamist militant group -- officially joined
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the terror enclave al-Qaida. The two groups posted a joint video formalizing the merger on the
Internet.
In that video, al-Shabab's leader, Ahmed Abdi Godane (also known as Mukhtar Abu Zubair)
promised that his group's militants would be "faithful soldiers" for al Qaida. He said, "In the
name of my mujahedeen brothers, leaders and soldiers...I pledge obedience." He continued,
"Lead us on the road of jihad and martyrdom, in the footsteps that our martyr Osama bin Laden
had drawn for us." The al-Shabab leader was followed in the video by Ayman Al Zawahiri, the
leader of al-Qaida, announced the " good news" of al-Shabab's decision to join the global Jihadist
movement -- a move he said would undoubtedly "annoy the crusaders."
It should be noted that although al-Shabab made a strategic exit from Mogadishu months prior, it
still held sway over large swaths of Somalia and had shifted its focus to carrying out terrorist
attacks, rather than more conventional warfare, in the Mogadishu area. In fact, al-Shabab has been
functioning as a de facto ally of al-Qaida, in recent years. Indeed, al-Shabab has acted as
something of a proxy for al-Qaida, even expanding its terrorist activities beyond Somali borders as
it moved in a Jihadist direction. Notably, al-Shabab was responsible for deadly bombings in
Uganda, and it was suspected of being behind a number of violent attacks, killings, and
kidnappings in Kenya in recent times, seemingly in retaliation for Kenya's involvement in the
African Union mission in Somalia aimed at stabilizing the failed state. This announcement of alShabab joing al-Qaida, therefore, merely officialized al-Shabab's identity as a standpoint Islamist
terror group in the strategic Horn of Africa, now subsumed under the al-Qaida rubric.
That being said, al-Shabab has been under pressure since late 2011 and into 2012 as a result of
strategic offensives by Somali troops backed by African Union forces, as well as incursions by
Ethiopian and Kenyan troops, aimed at quelling the effects of al-Shabab in the strategic Horn of
Africa. See above for details as regards the efforts of foreign forces in Somalia and the fight to
quell al-Shabab.
Further 2012 Update:
At the start of March 2012, authorities in Somalia were projecting a more positive image of the
country, claiming that its victories against the militant extremist enclave, al-Shabab, were helping
pave the way for a more stable future. Dismissing the recent report that al-Shabab officially joined
the notorious terrorist group, al-Qaida, Somali officials instead pointed to the fact that African
Union-backed government troops were beating back their attempts to reclaim a foothold in the
capital city of Mogadishu. As well, the presence of foreign troops from Ethiopia and Kenya "in
country" - also placing pressure on al-Shabab -- was paying security dividends. The interim
government announced the country had applied to join the East African Community, that beaches
were open for recreation, and that an international air carrier -- Turkish Airlines -- announced
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regular flights into Mogadishu. Moreover, President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, who has typically been
confined to the his official residence at Villa Somalia for security reasons, was seen strolling in the
streets of the capital.
But by mid-March 2012, such claims by Somali authorities were being challenged by the reality of
ongoing attacks by al-Shabab -- even on high value targets. Indeed, on March 14, 2012, a suicide
bomber killed at least five people in an attack at the compound of parliamentary speaker, Sharif
Hassan Sheikh Adan. Al-Shabab wasted no time in claiming the attack, which it described as an
extraordinary operation. In other developments in Somalia, as many as 5,000 people were being
displaced as a result of clashes between al-Shabab terrorists and Somali troops assisted by
Ethiopian and Kenyan troops in the country's southwestern Gedo region.
On April 4, 2012, a bomb attack in the Somali capital of Mogadishu left several people dead,
including Aden Yabarow Wiish, the head of the country's Olympic committee and Said Mohamed
Nur, Somalia's football chief. Three Somali television journalists sustained injuries in the blast,
which took place at the newly re-opened national theater. That theater had been closed in the
1990s when Somalia was in the throes of civil war; it was re-opened in March 2012 as the
government boasted of a new day dawning in Somalia. Clearly, Somalia was far from the promise
of calm. Militants from the Islamist terrorist enclave, al-Shabab, claimed responsibility for the
attack. Al-Shabab released a statement via Twitter that read as follows: "The Mujahideen
successfully planted the explosives before the gathering." As well, a spokesman for the group,
Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab, said in an interview with Reuters, "We were behind the theater blast.
We targeted the infidel ministers and legislators, and they were the casualties of today." Prime
Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali, who was among the survivors of the attack, condemned alShabab, noting that it was the mission of the terrorist group to "kill innocent people."
Timetable for Political Transition
On May 24, 2012, leaders of various factions in Somalia agreed to a timetable for a political
transition in the country, ultimately culminating with a presidential election by Aug. 20, 2012.
Also ensconced in the transition agreement were provisions for a draft constitution and a new
federal parliament that would be appointed by group of elders by July 20, 2012 - ahead of the
presidential election. To that end, the members of the new federal parliament would be responsible
for choosing the president in an internal election a month later in August 2012.
The agreement was forged in Ethiopia and signed by six parties -- interim President Sheikh Sharif
Sheikh Ahmed, his prime minister, the parliamentary speaker, as well as the regional leaders of
Galmudug, Puntland and a representative of the pro-government militia al-Sunna Wal Jama'a. The
al-Shabab Islamists aligned with the terror enclave a-Qaida, who have controlled swaths of central
Somalia, were not party to the agreement. Also outside the agreement was the self-declared
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independent state of Somaliland, which broke away at the start of the civil war in 1991. It should
be noted that there was a sense of urgency in crafting the deal with donors warning that they would
withdraw funding if the country's political crisis did not soon come to an end.
At the start of August 2012, two suicide bombers carried out an attack at the gates of Somalia's
constituent assembly. The bombing left both men dead but no civilian casualties since they were
stopped at the gates and shot. No one group claimed responsibility for the attack, although all eyes
were on the militant Islamic group, al-Shabab, that has aligned its forces with the notorious terror
enclave, al-Qaida. This incident came after a spate of other such acts of violence in a short space
of time as roadside bombs and grenade attacks rocked the Somali capital city of Mogadishu.
Observers believed that the attacks were all designed to undermine the historic gathering of the
constitutional assembly.
That constitutional assembly was aimed at establishing a foundation for a future government, and
ultimately stabilizing Somalia, which is arguably one of the world's failed states. A vote on a draft
constitution was expected to be held on the day of the very day of the bombing at the gates of the
constituent assembly complex. By the close of the first week of August 2012, Somali President
Sharif Sheikh Ahmed had signed a national security plan intended to address long-term issues for
security and to reform the country's justice sector in light of the threat posed by the
aforementioned al-Shabab.
Elections Note:
On Aug. 20, 2012, Somalia's newly-selected members of parliament were sworn into office -- a
development intended to demonstrate the country's desire to transition from a failed state into more
stable governance. The new parliament would be tasked with electing a new president of the
country in a parliamentary vote.
A presidential election was set for August 2012 as part of the stabilization agenda for Somalia.
Already on the agenda was a new draft constitution, which would set the path for the establishment
of a new government. These development sought to catapult Somalia out of its current status as
one of the world's failed states.
Three top political leaders in Somalia indicated they would be contesting the presidency; these
three individuals included the incumbent president, the prime minister, and the speaker of the
outgoing parliament. Somali President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed was a moderate Islamist who
has held presidential power since 2009; he was seeking re-election and has been viewed as a front
runner in this 2012 contest. Somali Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali, a senior academic who
has gained notoriety as a technocrat, was looking to elevate his political fortune and consolidate the
political gains made in recent times. Sharif Hassan Sheikh Adam, the speaker of the outgoing
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parliament and a businessman, was advancing his candidacy on the basis that he was the face of
political change in Somalia. More than a dozen other candidates would also be contesting the
presidency.
Note: The vote on the presidency took place on Sept. 10, 2012 via secret ballot. Late on that day,
it was announced that Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud was the country's new president with 190
votes. The incumbent president Sharif Sheikh Ahmed made it into the final round but ended up in
second place. For his part, Hassan Sheikh Hohamoud thanked the members of parliament for
their votes, expressed gratitude to the international community for assisting Somalia, and cast the
election as a historic development.
On Oct. 6, 2012, the newly-elected president of Somalia named a new prime minister. President
Hassan Sheikh Mohamud announced that Abdi Farah Shirdon Saaid, a political neophyte, had been
selected as the country's new head of government. Shirdon Saaid was a successful entrepreneur in
Somalia's neighboring country of Kenya who was married to a well-known Somali peace activist,
Asha Haji. It should be noted that a presidential election was held a month prior, on Sept. 10,
2012, as part of the stabilization agenda for Somalia. Already on the agenda was a new draft
constitution, which would set the path for the establishment of a new government. Now, in
October 2012, the country had a new president, who had chosen a new prime minister to lead the
government. The selection of Shirdon Saaid, who was quite clearly outside the cauldron of volatile
and contentious clan politics in Somalia, was being interpreted as a wise choice by observers.
Indeed, as the first major presidential decision, it was expected to bolster the standing of President
Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. These developments sought to catapult Somalia out of its current status
as one of the world's failed states.
Other Recent Developments
On Sept. 29, 2012, following an assault by African Union troops, Islamist extremists in Somalia
withdrew from their southern stronghold of Kismayo. The assault was carried out by Kenyan and
Somali forces, functioning under the aegis of the African Union, in a mission to flush out the
Islamist terrorist group, al-Shabab, from one of their remaining strongholds. The operation began
with early morning airborne and amphibious landings in the coastal area close to the road to
Mogadishu. The ensuing battle was a fierce one with the African Union troops encountering
serious resistance from the al-Shabab fighters, although they were eventually able to force the
Islamists to retreat. Al-Shabab released a statement eschewing the notion of surrender and
claiming that their abandonment of Kismayo was simply a "tactical retreat."
Nevertheless, two days later on Oct. 1, 2012, the African Union forces, along with Somali
government troops, finally entered the strategic port of Kismayo. This effort against al-Shabab,
an ally of al-Qaida, was aimed at clearing the political field and taking control over the country at a
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time when Somalia's United Nations-backed President Hassan Sheikh Hohamoud was coming to
power.
On April 14, 2013, around 20 people were killed when gunmen dressed in military garb stormed a
courthouse compound in the Somali capital of Mogadishu, and launched an attack. The gunmen
opened fire and a gun battle followed between the attackers and security forces. Among the dead
were several armed intruders carrying out the attack, including some who detonated the explosives
strapped to their bodies. In a separate incident, a car bomb exploded on the road to the airport,
killing the suicide bomber and two Turkish aid workers.
The Somali-based Islamistist terror group, al-Shabab, which is allied with the al-Qaida terror base,
claimed responsibility for the attacks. The violence was the worst in Somalia since al-Shabab was
driven from Mogadishu by African Union and government forces in 2011. Since that time, the
capital has endured occasional attacks in the ensuing two years as al-Shabab tried to regain a
foothold in the capital. Still, Mogadishu could claim some degree of uneasy calm, which was
certainly ruptured on this day in April 2013. Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud
responded to the attacks with condemnation saying, "Somalia is moving and will keep moving
forward and will not be prevented [from achieving] a peaceful and stable Somalia by a few
desperate terrorists." Despite the president's dismissal that the attacks were "nothing but a sign of
desperation by the terrorists," the fact remained that al-Shabab continued to hold sway over large
swaths of rural Somalia.
On Aug. 4, 2013, al-Shabaab Islamist terrorists launched an attack on the Somali capital of
Mogadishu. Despite the fact that Somalia's government-controlled capital has seen security
improvements in recent times, al-Shabab Islamist extremists were nonetheless able to carry out a
guerilla-style attack using mortar shells and grenades, leaving women and a policeman wounded.
Somali security forces displayed their prowess by returning fire and the attack was quelled with a
low number of casualties. Still, al-Shabab promised that further attacks were in the offing to mark
the end of the Ramadan holy Muslim period.
In the second half of 2013, violence sparked in Somalia at the hands of extremist Islamists, thus
reminding the world of the country's "failed state" status. Of particular note was the fact that the
spate of attacks targeted foreign nationals, journalists, and politicians. It was clear that Islamist
extremists remained intent on the goal of destabilizing Somalia. Indeed, the alarming increase in
violence resulted in the decision by Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders) to close
its operations in Somalia due to "extreme attacks on its staff."
On Aug. 21, 2013, a Swedish politician was attacked in Mogadishu -- the capital city of Somalia.
Gunmen fired at the vehicle transporting Ann-Margarethe Livh, wounding the Swedish politician,
and killing two others. The incident occurred as Livh -- the leader of Sweden's Left Party in
Stockholm -- and the two other victims, a Somali translator and a police officer -- were returning
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to her hotel following her delivery of a lecture on democracy at a university in Mogadishu. The
shocking act of violence against a prominent foreign national was expected to add to the fears that
Somalia was slipping back into a failed state marked by lawlessness and chaos, and with
Mogadishu regaining its dubious distinction as a battleground between weak government forces and
Islamic extremist militants.
These fears were only accentuated on Sept. 7, 2013, when the Somali Islamist militant group, alShabab, claimed responsibility for the bombing of a popular Mogadishu restaurant close to the
presidential palace that left 15 people dead. Witnesses on the scene said the attacks included both a
car bombing and a suicide bomber. Spokespersons for al-Shabab, which is aligned with the terror
enclave, al-Qaida, said it had expressly targeted the restaurant because it was frequented by Somali
members of parliament, government employees, and journalists. Nicholas Kay, the United Nations
secretary-general's special envoy to Somalia, reacted to the bloodshed as follows: "I am appalled
by this act of savagery and condemn it in the strongest terms. I offer my sincere condolences to
the families and friends of those killed and wish a speedy recovery to the injured."
Al-Shabab terrorists from Somalia launch brutal attack at Kenyan shopping mall
Gunmen from the Somalia-based terror group, al-Shabab, launched an audacious attack on a
popular shopping mall in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi on Sept. 21, 2013. The attack began with
the al-Shaba extremist Islamist terrorists storming the upscale Westgate mall compound, hurling
grenades, and opening fire on customers and mall staff with automatic weapons.
Two days later on Sept. 23, 2013, the attack continued with around 70 people reported to have
been killed, more than 175 wounded, as many as 50 people unaccounted for. Also, scores of
people were believed to be held either as hostages or trapped in the mall and unable to escape.
Meanwhile, a standoff was ensuing between the terrorists and Kenyan security forces.
There were unconfirmed reports that the attackers included at least one woman. At the same time,
according to witness accounts, the attackers were clearly targeting non-Muslims. Survivor
accounts indicated that the terrorists asked Muslims to identify themselves and they were then
allowed to leave. According to a witness account recorded by a correspondent for the Economist,
an Indian man who claimed to be Muslim (presumably for reasons of survival) was shot to death
when he could not provide the correct answer to a question regarding the Islamic Prophet
Muhammed's mother.
Also among the dead were Kenyan, Ghanaian, South African, French, Dutch, British, Canadian,
American, Peruvian, Australian, Indian, and Chinese victims. The Ghanaian victim was reported
to be the well-known poet, Kofi Awoonor, who was in Kenya to attend a literary festival. Of the
Canadian victims, one of the dead was reported to be a diplomat. The wife of an American
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working for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) was also reported to
have been killed. Because the mall was the venue for a gathering of children on that day, children
were reported to have died in the attack which British Prime Minster David Cameron characterized
as "an act of appalling brutality."
In a televised address, President Uhuru Kenyatta said that security forces were "in the process of
neutralizing the attackers and securing the mall," however, it was apparent that despite the
president's claim, that goal was not going to be accomplished with ease. Indeed, the safety of the
hostages required that security experts use caution and delicacy to end the siege. Still, the Kenyan
leader had a warning for the al-Shabab terrorists, saying, "We shall hunt down the perpetrators
wherever they run to. We shall get to them and we shall punish them for this heinous crime."
President Kenyatta certainly had a personal stake in the matter as he confirmed that his own
family members had been killed in the attack.
There were efforts afoot to deal with the ensuing siege at the shopping mall, with Kenyan special
forces being called in to support police in this effort. As well, Israeli deployed some of its antiterrorism experts to help Kenyan authorities while the international police organization, Interpol,
had offered to deploy an Incident Response Team consisting of specialized forensic officers, antiterror experts, to Kenya. Further forensic experts were being sent to assist the Kenyans from the
United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Canada to examine DNA, fingerprints, and
ballistic evidence.
Al-Shabab, which aligned itself with the notorious terror enclave, al-Qaida, wasted no time in
claiming responsibility for the deadly attack, explaining that its actions were in retaliation for the
Kenyan's military involvement in Somalia.
Since the autumn of 2011, Kenyan military forces, along with allied Somali troops, have been
carrying out an offensive against al-Shabab. The action was aimed at eliminating al-Shabab
strongholds, apparent Islamist terrorist training camps, as well as stopping the transfer of arms to
al-Shabab militants; the action was motivated by the regime of violence being carried out by the
militant terror group not only in Somalia but in other countries. Indeed, al-Shabab was suspected
of being behind a number of violent attacks, killings, and kidnappings in Kenya in recent times, in
response to Kenya's involvement in Somalia, under the aegis of the African Union mission. That
mission was itself aimed at stabilizing Somalia.
Although al-Shabab made a strategic exit from the Somali capital of Mogadishu months prior, it still
held sway over large swaths of Somalia and had shifted its focus to carrying out terrorist attacks,
rather than more conventional warfare, in the Mogadishu area. The terrorist agenda of al-Shabab
was extroverted in 2012 when the extremist Islamist entity went from operating as a proxy terror
group for al-Qaida, to officially joining the ranks of the world's most notorious terror enclave.
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Al-Shabab has been under intensifying pressure from a number of fronts. In addition to the troops
from Kenya, there have also been African Union troops operating in Somalia to offer support to
government forces, as well as troops from Ethiopia and most recently Djibouti additionally
working in Somalia towards the same goal of repelling al-Shabab. The presence of foreign troops
in Somalia could prove to be a controversial matter, even contributing to further instability in a
country that can only be classified as a failed state. Indeed, al-Shabab declared that the presence
of Kenyan troops in Somalia was to be regarded as an act of war -- with the September 2013
assault on the Nairobi shopping mall being the latest apparent battle in the war.
Note that as of Sept. 24, 2013 -- three days after the start of the tragic assault -- Kenyan
authorities were able to report that they were in control of all areas of the Westgate Mall in
Nairobi. But that claim was regarded with doubt as explosions and gunfire continued to be heard
emanating from the shopping complex, and as flames were seen coming from the mall. Kenyan
Interior Minister Joseph Ole Lenku said that Kenyan special forces were carrying out an operation
intended to end the siege, saying, "The terrorists could be running and hiding in some stores, but all
floors now are under our control." He continued, "There is no room for escape."
A day later on Sept. 25, 2013, President Kenyatta announced that the crisis was over and promised
again that the assailants would be brought to justice. To that end, about a dozen suspects were said
to be arrested on the grounds that they were somehow involved in the attack. Seven people were
arrested at the airport in Nairobi and being subject to interrogations. It should be noted that
Kenyan authorities confirmed that a woman was among the al-Shabab assailants; she was reported
to be a national of the United Kingdom. Also among the assailants were two United States
nationals, who were described to be of about 19 years old and of either Arab or Somali origin. The
International Criminal Court entered the fray saying that it would work with Kenya to ensure the
terrorists responsible for the bloodshed and violence would face justice.
In the waning days of September 2013, a number of suspects being held in connection with the
terror attack at the Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi. As well, there were reports that both
Kenyan and Western authorities were trying to apprehend a United Kingdom national -- Samantha
Lewthwaite -- known as the "white widow" due to the fact that she was the wife of one of the
2005 London suicide bombers. It was not known if Lewthwaite was being sought in connection
with the Kenyan mall attack or in connection to a previous al-Shabab plot dating back to 2011.
Around the same time, there were reports that Kenyan government ministers received warnings of
an impending terror attack ahead of the Westgate shopping mall massacre. Kenyan newspapers
reported that the National Intelligence Service was warned of the presence of suspected al-Shabab
militants in Nairobi more than a year prior, and that those militants were planning to carry out acts
of terrorism. In fact, Kenya's Daily Nation reported that ministers were given security briefings
"informing them of increasing threat of terrorism and of plans to launch simultaneous attacks in
Nairobi and Mombasa around September 13 and 20, 2013." The Daily Nation also noted that
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Kenyan intelligence had actually pinpointed both the Westgate shopping mall and the Holy Family
Basilica as likely targets.
With this news emerging and accusations arising about the government's lack of attentiveness to
such precise threats, the Kenyan government was clearly under fire. On Sept. 29, 2013, Interior
Minister Joseph Ole Lenku was asked to address these concerns during a news conference;
however, he declined to comment, saying instead that intelligence issues were confidential.
As September 2013 drew to a close, the terror group, al-Shabab warned that the Kenyan mall
attack was "act one" or "just the premier" in its agenda to force Kenya to withdraw its troops from
Somalia. But there was no sign that Kenya intended to bend to the will of terrorists. Indeed, there
were reports of Kenyan forces gathering close to the Somali border, in anticipation of a
peacekeeping rotation into Somalia. As well, President Uhuru Kenyatta has made it clear that
Kenya will not withdraw from Somalia, where its military forces have been involved in a relatively
successful African Union effort to force al-Shabab into a state of retreat from Mogadishu
(Somalia's capital). This attack in Kenya likely only served to strengthen the commitment of
regional and international bodies to dismantling and eradicating the terrorist threat posed by alShabab.
More Violence by al-Shabab Islamist Terrorists
On Nov. 8, 2013, at least six people were killed and more than a dozen others were injured as a
result of a suicide attack at a hotel in Somalia's capital city of Mogadishu. The attack came in the
form of a car bombing outside the Hotel Maka, which was known to be a popular meeting spot
for government officials and members of parliament. There were reports that one victim was a
senior diplomat. While there was no immediate claim of responsibility, the likely culprit was alShabab -- the Somalia-based terror group allied with the Jihadist terror enclave, al-Qaida.
It should be noted that the Hotel Maka was located on a road that connects the airport with the
presidential palace in the capital city. Since this part of Mogadishu was heavily guarded, it has also
been regarded as relatively safe. A suicide attack in this part of the city, likely attributable to the
terror group al-Shabab, was therefore expected to raise anxieties in Somalia. While al-Shabab has
been active in the rural part of the country, it was largely driven out of Mogadishu. A terror attack
in the part of the city generally viewed as safe -- and with government officials as the likely target - would constitute cause for concern, especially since al-Shabab appeared to be stepping up its
campaign of terror elsewhere in the country and regionally.
Earlier, in the third week of October 2013, a suicide bomber carried out an attack on a cafe in the
Somali town of of Baladweyne, killing close to 20 people and injuring more than 30 others. The
attack took place close to the border with Ethiopia. Since the cafe was a venue patronized by
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both local and foreign soldiers fighting al-Shabab terrorists, there was little doubt as to the
motivation behind the attack.
Al-Shabab wasted little time in claiming responsibility for that attack, and made clear that it actively
targeted soldiers participating in the African Union peacekeeping force fighting against Islamic
extremists in that country. Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab, a spokesperson for al-Shabab, said: "Our
main target was Ethiopian and Djibouti troops who invaded our country." He also claimed the
death toll was higher -- with 25 victims.
A month later on Nov. 19, 2013, at least 19 people died as a result of a suicide attack on an
African Union (AU) base in the same town of Beledweyne close to the border with Ethiopia.
Officials said the suicide bomber drove a car packed with explosives through the gates to the base
while gunmen then stormed the building, which houses AU troops from Djibouti as well as Somali
policemen. The Somali-based Islamist terror group, al-Shabab, claimed responsibility for this
attack in Beledweyne as well. It was evident that Beledweyne's strategic location close to the
Ethiopian border but also on the main road to Mogadishu was a factor in al-Shabab's decision to
targeting the town in its campaign of terror and violence.
It should be noted that joint Somali and African forces drove al-Shabab from Baladweyne more
than a year prior to 2013. However, as its control over vast swaths of territory has eroded, alShabab has moved away from direct confrontation -- or war -- with military forces and moved
towards guerrilla-style attacks typical of terrorist entities.
Al-Shabab has also clearly moved away from a Somalia-only target zone, and having aligned itself
with al-Qaida, was now clearly embracing its Islamic Jihadist orientation. Of note was the series of
attacks launched by al-Shabab in neighboring countries, such as Kenya and Uganda, which have
dispatched troops to Somalia to help the government troops stave off the Islamist threat. Over the
course of recent years, al-Shabab has carried out terrorist attacks in Kenya, but none was so
shocking or brutal as the siege on a Nairobi shopping mall in September 2013, and the resulting
rampage of terror that left scores of people dead (discussed above).
According to United States intelligence, Uganda was also on al-Shabab's target list as it warned that
country to take necessary cautions to save itself from a Kenyan mall-style attack. This warning
appeared to be justified as al-Shabab soon warned that the Kenyan mall attack was "act one" or
"just the premier" in its agenda to force Kenya to withdraw its troops from Somalia.
Special Note on U.S. special forces operation in Somalia
In October 2013, United States special forces raided terrorist enclaves in Somalia. This operation
targeted the Somali town of Barawe. There, commandos were targeting a "high value" terrorist
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from al-Shabab -- the Somali terror group that is allied with al-Qaida. Because al-Shabab fighters
responded with heavy fire, United States commandos chose to retreat from the scene although
there was some suggestion that one al-Shabab terrorist was killed. It was not known if the person
killed was Mukhtar Abu Zubeyr, also known as Ahmed Godane -- the leader of al-Shabab. It was
later revealed that the target of that action was Abdukadir Mohamed Abdukadir, a Kenyan alShabab commander also known by the name "Ikrima." It should be noted that the al-Shabab,
which is aligned with the terror enclave al-Qaida, claimed responsibility for the horrific terrorist
attack on the Westgate shopping mall in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi, discussed above.
Somali parliament ousts prime minister
A no-confidence vote in the parliament of Somalia ended the tenure of Prime Minister Abdi Farah
Shirdon who had been in office for little more than a year. Indeed, he was the fifth prime minister
in six years to be ousted by the Somali parliament. At issue in this case was disagreement between
members of parliament and Shirdon over the selection of members of a new cabinet. The
development was sure to add further instability to the failed nation state of Somalia. President
Hassan Sheik Mohamad was expected to eventually appoint a new prime minister. Note that as of
December 2013, Prime Minister Abdiwelli Sheikh Ahmed became the new head of government.
Islamist terrorist al-Shabab group likely culprits in attacks
At the start of January 2014, Somalia was rocked by violence as a dual car bombing of a Somali
hotel left about a dozen people dead and more than 40 others injured. The site of the two
bombings -- the Jazeera hotel -- was a popular venue among Somali politicians and foreign
nationals. Among the dead were three of the assailants who carried out the assault on the Jazeera
hotel; however, the majority of the victims were security personnel and civilians. The chief of
police, General Abdihakin Dahir Saacid, explained in remarks to the news media that the assault
began when a car loaded with explosives rammed a police car outside the hotel. A second car
loaded with explosives was detonated after emergency crews arrived on the scene. A week earlier
in late 2013, a dozen individuals, including six military troops, died as a result of a remotecontrolled bomb in a restaurant in Mogadishu. Suspicion for the attacks at the restaurant and at the
Jazeera hotel in Mogadishu rested on the Somali Islamist terror group, al-Shabab.
On Feb. 21, 2014, an attack by militant Islamists on the Somali presidential compound, known as
Villa Somalia, killed about a dozen individuals. The Islamic terrorists rammed through the gates of
the heavily-fortified compound using a vehicle packed with explosives, and then launched a gun
battle with presidential guards. Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud escaped the assault
unharmed and said that the attack would not impede his effort to move Somalia in a more positive
direction after years of violence and unrest. However, the fact that Islamic militants were able to
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carry out such a brazen attack on the presidential compound raised questions about the everdisturbing level of insecurity and instability in the failed state of Somalia. It should be noted that
the terror group, al-Shabab, which was aligned with the notorious terrorism base, al-Qaida,
immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.
In the third week of March 2014, Islamist terrorists from the group, al-Shabab, attacked a hotel in
central Somalia where African Union (AU) peacekeepers were staying. The attack began with a
suicide bomber ramming a car through the gates of the hotel in the city of Bulobarde, and was
followed by a shooting spree as gunmen opened fire indiscriminately. Several people were
reported to have died as a result; included in the dead were troops, civilians, the military
commander of Hiran province, and a local government official. The assailants were ostensibly
targeting AU forces, who have worked with Somali forces to rid Somalia of its Islamist extremist
threat posed by al-Shabab. First, the target of the attack was a hotel in Bulobarbe (located about
130 miles north of the Somali capital of Mogadishu), which was known to house AU
peacekeepers. Second, AU forces had recently driven al-Shabab from Bulobarde and so it was
quite likely that al-Shabab was showing that it had not, in fact, been vanquished. It should be noted
that al-Shabab is aligned with the notorious terror base, al-Qaida, and has a strongly extremist
agenda oriented towards imposing its strict Islamic code. Although joint AU and Somali forces
have placed pressure on al-Shabab, the Islamist group has continued to wage attacks in Somalia.
Indeed, only a day before this attack at the hotel in Bulobarde, al-Shabab militants attacked a
military convoy near the capital Mogadishu, killing four Somali soldiers.
Somali terror group al-Shabab suspected of attacks in Kenya
In the early summer of 2014, a spate of attacks in Kenya were believed to be the work of the
Somalia-based terror group, al-Shabab. The latest attack in July 2014 hit the resort coastal of
region of Lamu and left dozens of people dead.
Going back to May 2014, two explosions rocked the Kenyan capital of Nairobi killing several
people and injuring scores more. The two blasts targeted passengers buses on a busy highway and
appeared to have been caused by improvised explosive devices (IEDs) commonly used by Jihadist
terrorists. Around the same period of in May 2014, the area of Kasarani to the northeast of
Nairobi was also struck by violence, as two other blasts targeted a hotel and an underpass. Scores
of casualties were reported in those cases, with Kenyan authorities noting that 20 of the injuries
were deemed critical. Blame rested on the Somalia-based Islamist extremist entity, al-Shabab.
In mid-June 2014, Kenya's coastal area of Mpeketoni was struck by deadly violence -- quite likely
at the hands of the Somalia-based extremist Islamist group, al-Shabab. The horrific wave of
violence that rocked the coast of Kenya close to the resort island of Lamu ensued over the course
of two days and left as many as 60 dead. A police station, a number of hotels, and neighboring
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villages, were among the targets struck by ongoing raids by gunmen. Many of the victims were
watching World Cup matches at the time of the attacks. It should be noted that extremist Islamists
have deemed the act of watching football matches to be "un-Islamic." As a result, Kenyan
authorities urged citizens to remain at home to watch the 2014 World Cup, rather than gathering in
public places.
Meanwhile, al-Shabab wasted no time in claiming responsibility as it declared the attacks were
carried out in retaliation for Kenyan troops in Somalia as part of a force to repel Islamist
extremists.
President Uhuru Kenyatta took the perplexing path of denying al-Shabab's claim of responsibility
and instead claiming that local political groups were responsible for the violence. He took note of
the fat that most of the victims were ethnic Kikuyus -- of the same ethnicity as him. However, the
truth of the matter was that with most of the victims being non-Muslims, it was conceivable that alShabab was behind the bloodshed.
Regardless of the competing claims as to the actual assailants, several people were arrested a few
days after the attacks. Via Twitter, the local police chief, David Kimaiyo, said: "We have arrested
several suspects in connection to Mpeketoni incident including the owner and driver of one the
vehicles used by attackers." He also tweeted: "Also in police custody is a suspect who was
operating social media accounts purportedly used by al-Shabab to claim responsibility."
The Kenyan coast was again the site of bloodshed in the last week of June 2014 when a gang
armed with machetes raided the village of Witu, located in close proximity to Mpeketoni. The
attack resulted in the hacking deaths of five people. As was the case in the previous coastal attack,
the identity of the assailants remained hazy. Blame, as usual, rested on al-Shabab; however, the
president continued to insist that recent attacks were the work of political rivals.
In the second week of July 2014, the coastal resort region of Lamu was again hit by violence when
armed men raided a trading center, attacked a police stating, and burned down homes. As many
as 30 people were killed as a result of the brutal assault. Most of the victims were reported to be
adult men. Al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the bloodshed and made it clear that its main target
for attack outside of Somalia was Kenya.
It should be noted that al-Shabab, which is aligned with the terror enclave al-Qaida, claimed
responsibility for the horrific terrorist attack on the Westgate shopping mall in the Kenyan capital
of Nairobi in 2013 that left scores of victims dead. At the time, the terror group warned that the
Kenyan mall attack was "act one" or "just the premier" in its agenda to force Kenya to withdraw its
troops from Somalia. Clearly, these bombings in 2014 were signs that al-Shabab was making good
on its nefarious threat.
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That being said, there was no sign that Kenya intended to bend to the will of terrorists. Kenyan
President Uhuru Kenyatta has made it clear that Kenya will not withdraw from Somalia, where its
military forces have been involved in a relatively successful African Union effort to force alShabab into a state of retreat from Mogadishu (Somalia's capital). These various attacks in Kenya
likely only served to strengthen the commitment of regional and international bodies to dismantling
and eradicating the terrorist threat posed by al-Shabab. Indeed, at the close of June 2014, Kenya
intensified its air strikes on the Islamist extremist groups bases in Somalia.
Al-Shabab extremists Islamists step up attacks in Somalia
July 2014 saw extremist terrorist Islamists from al-Shabab step up their attacks in Somalia. In one
incident on July 3, 2014, al-Shabab terrorists blocked the car of a Somali legislator, Mohamed
Mohamud Hayd, and his bodyguard, before opening fire on both men and ultimately killing them.
A second legislator as well as a secretary for the parliament were also injured in the attack. In a
separate incident, al-Shabab terrorists attacked Somalia's presidential compound with a car bomb
while some of their gunmen broke penetrated the security perimeter. While they were eventually
repelled by security forces at the presidential compound, and while the president was not in
residence at the time and was thus unharmed, the fact of the matter was that al-Shabab was able to
successfully carry out a direct hit on a high value target.
U.S. strike kills leader of al-Shabab terrorist group; African peacekeeping forces make gains
Joint African peacekeeping and Somali forces were making gains against Islamist terrorist group, alShabaab, in the southern town of Bulamareer, located close to the Islamist terrorists' stronghold of
Barawe. The joint operation also saw success by recapturing territory in the surrounding areas of
the Lower Shabelle region.
The effort in late August 2014 in Bulamareer -- about 50 miles to the north of Barawe -- and the
surrounding region was part of an overall operation that started earlier in 2014 and had been aimed
at repelling al-Shabab from towns where they have held sway. Of particular concern had been the
southern part of the country, which was largely been under al-Shabab's control.
In recent times, al-Shabab has transformed from being a Somalia-focused Islamic insurgency into
an extremist Jihadist entity that carries out brutal terrorist attacks both at home and in neighboring
countries. While international forces operating in Somalia have placed pressure on al-Shabab, it
has aligned itself with al-Qaida, taken advantage of Somalia's weak government, and relentlessly
worked to destabilize Somalia the Horn of Africa.
At the start of September 2014, the United States carried out air strikes in Somalia targeting the
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leader of al-Shabab, Ahmed Abdi Godane. The operation used both manned and unmanned
aircraft. Days after the United States Pentagon confirmed the operation, Pentagon Press Secretary
Rear Admiral John Kirby confirmed that the primary target -- Godane -- had been successfully
eliminated in the strikes on an encampment and convoy of vehicles to the south of Mogadishu.
For several years, Godane -- also known as Mukhtar Abu Zubair -- has stood near the top of the
United States Department of State's most wanted list. He was radicalized in Sudan and Pakistan,
and reportedly fought in Afghanistan, before becoming the al-Shabab's leader in 2008. A year
later, he officially announced al-Shabab's alliance and allegiance to the notorious terror enclave, alQaida. In 2012, the United States placed a $7 million bounty on his head. In recent years, alShabab's activities have expanded beyond Somalia's borders to neighboring countries with an
increasingly Islamist Jihadist agenda. Of note was the horrific terror attack at a Kenyan shopping
mall in 2013.
While the United States has not been known to be actively involved in operations in Somalia, it has
nonetheless supported African Union forces tasked with repelling al-Shabab from Mogadishu. As
well, the United States has gone after high value al-Shabab targets in Somalia before. To that end,
in October 2013, United States special forces raided terrorist enclaves in Somalia, with the
objective of going after a "high value" terrorist from al-Shabab. Because al-Shabab fighters
there was some suggestion that one al-Shabab terrorist was killed. It was later revealed that the
target of that action was Abdukadir Mohamed Abdukadir, a Kenyan al-Shabab commander also
known by the name "Ikrima."
Now, in September 2014, the United States could claim victory for eliminating one of the world's
most important terrorists, and specifically, the leader of al-Shabab -- Godane. In this way, the
successful strike operation struck a heavy blow to the al-Shabab terror group, which did not have
an obvious successor to Godane.
In Somalia, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamed used the opportunity to urge al-Shabab to lay
down arms. He announced a 45-day amnesty for terrorists aligned with the group to renounce
their association in al-Shabab. It was to be seen if al-Shabab would respond affirmatively to the
offer, or simply regroup and re-emerge once again.
The answer to that question came in October 2014 when a car bomb was detonated outside a
popular cafe in the Somali capital of Mogadishu. Several people were killed as a result and more
than a dozen others were injured. While there was no immediate claim of responsibility, suspicion
immediately rested on the Islamist extremist terror group, al-Shabab, which was aligned with alQaida. Indeed, the security authorities in Somalia made clear in interviews with the international
media that they believed al-Shabab to be behind the bloodshed.
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Since the car bombing occurred after Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamed announced a
45-day amnesty for terrorists aligned with the group to renounce their association in al-Shabab, it
was apparent that Islamist extremist terrorists were not interested in taking that route. Defeats
were being interpreted as "tacticial withdrawals," and the al-Shabab fighters were using the
opportunity to simply regroup and re-emerge once again.
The car bombing in Mogadishu also stood as a reminder of the fact that al-Shabab was, by no
means, defeated. Now, the Islamist extremist group was clearly resorting to guerrilla warfare as it
continued to terrorize the public.
It should be noted that in recent times, al-Shabab has transformed from being a Somalia-focused
Islamic insurgency into an extremist Jihadist entity that carries out brutal terrorist attacks both at
home and in neighboring countries. Of note was the horrific terror attack at a Kenyan shopping
mall in 2013. While international forces operating in Somalia have placed pressure on al-Shabab
(as discussed here), it has aligned itself with al-Qaida, taken advantage of Somalia's weak
government, and relentlessly worked to destabilize Somalia the Horn of Africa.
Government Update:
On Nov. 11, 2014, the parliament of Somalia was debating the fate of Prime Minister Abdiweli
Sheikh Ahmed. At issue was a looming confidence vote and the question of whether or not the
head of government should be sacked. But supporters of the prime minister were not about to sit
quietly while members of parliament decided his political future. Instead, a sudden protest erupted
with the prime minister's support base blowing whistles, beating on jugs, and shouting "No
Motion!" The disruption forced the parliamentary speaker to bring a halt to the session and, as a
result, the confidence proceedings were placed on hold. Parliamentary Speaker Mohamed Sheikh
Osman said, "Due to noise, we hereby close the session today. Let it be another day."
That new day ensued on Nov. 15, 2014, but as before, disturbances from supporters of the prime
minister again brought an end to the proceedings, and no confidence vote was able to go forward.
Two days later on Nov. 17, 2014, more than a dozen cabinet ministers signed a petition urging the
prime minister to resign in the interests of national stability and unity. As expected, Prime Minister
Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed rejected this call.
On Nov. 24, 2014, yet another attempt was made in parliament to advance a confidence vote. As
before, the proceedings devolved into chaos as member of parliament supportive of the prime
minister ripped the document covering the attendance register as well as the very copies of the
confidence motion. Once again, the parliamentary speaker was forced to suspend the session.
Prime Minister Ahmed soon announced a cabinet shuffle; however, it was not known in that
development would ease the tensions.
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It should be noted that in the backdrop of the parliamentary drama resided the ongoing feud
between Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed and President President Hassan Sheikh
Mohamoud. That feud reached new heights when the prime minister removed some of the
president's stalwarts in a cabinet shuffle. The president reacted by declaring the move to be null
and void since he had not been consulted; the president also ordered all officials to return to their
original duties.
Attempts to broker a resolution between Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed and President
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud ended in failure, setting the stage for the confidence vote
discussed above. That vote occured on Dec. 6, 2014, and ended in the removal of Prime Minister
Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed from office. As many as 153 members of parliament voted to oust
Sheikh Ahmed whereas only 80 votes were registered in his favor.
President Mohamud applauded the move, saying, "I welcome the step taken by the parliament
today. I congratulate those who voted yes and those who voted no, which signals the political
maturity Somalia has reached to solve its internal differences."
Note that as December 2014 came to a close, the Somali parliament approved the appointment of
Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke as the country's new prime minister, replacing Sheikh Ahmed who
was removed, as discussed above. Sharmarke had experience as head of government, having
served as prime minister in 2009 and 2010. Following the vote in parliament approving
Sharmarke as the new prime minister, he said, "I will soon name an all-inclusive cabinet of
ministers." He added, "I assure you that there will be no political conflict, everything will be solved
through consultation and discussion."
Somali-based Islamist terror group al-Shabab carries out brutal attacks in Kenya; targets nonMuslims in massacre
In late 2014, the Somali-based terror group al-Shabab carried out attacks in Kenya, close to the
border with Somalia and Ethiopia. In these brutal massacred, al-Shabab clearly targeted Kenyan
non-Muslims for execution.
In the first attack that occurred at the end of November 2014, al-Shabab terrorists targeted a bus
bound for the Kenyan capital of Nairobi. They ambushed the vehicle, ordered passengers off the
bus at gunpoint, and killed all non-Muslims at close range. Three passengers survived by reciting
verses of the Koran -- presumably proving their Islamic "credentials."
In a statement, Sheikh Ali Mohamud Rage, an al-Shabab spokesperson, said, "The Mujahideen
successfully carried out an operation near Mandera early this morning, which resulted in 28
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crusaders perishing, as revenge for the crimes committed by the Kenyan crusaders against our
Muslim brethren in Mombasa." At issue were a series of raids by police on mosques in the city of
Mombasa, which were identified as terrorist recruiting venues and safe havens for storing
weapons.
For its part, Kenyan authorities made it clear that their armed forces would be carrying out an
offensive against camps and strongholds believed to be frequented by al-Shabab. Kenyan Deputy
President William Ruto promised retribution and justice, saying in a televised address: "I want to
assure you all that all those responsible for the loss of lives of Kenyans -- we will pursue you
everywhere, be it in Kenya, be it in Somalia."
But only days later on Dec. 2, 2014, al-Shabab carried out its second brutal attack -- this time
targeting non-Muslims at a quarry in Kormey, located close to the town of Mandera. Following a
similar pattern as before, the al-Shabab terrorists rounded up the workers while they were sleeping
in their tents, singled out 36 Christian quarry workers, lined them up for mass execution and then
shot them to death. Four victims were said to have been beheaded in what could only be
understood as a massacre. Muslim quarry workers were allowed to live.
Once again, al-Shabab made clear that they were responsible for these acts of barbarism, justifying
the group's brutality on the basis of Kenya's military engagement as part of a multilateral coalition
fighting al-Shabab in Somalia. Al-Shabab spokesperson Ali Mohamud Rage declared, "We are
uncompromising in our beliefs, relentless in our pursuit, ruthless against the disbelievers and we
will do whatever necessary to defend our Muslim brethren suffering from Kenya’s aggression."
It should be noted that al-Shabab began as an Islamist entity battling the weak government of
Somalia; it has since aligned with al-Qaida and other notorious Islamist extremist terrorism
enclaves. Moreover, al-Shabab has expanded its goals, transforming itself from a national militant
group to more of a terrorist entity with Jihadist ambitions as it has increasingly launched attacks
outside of Somalia. Kenya is a favored target for al-Shabab due to that country's involvement in a
multilateral military effort to rout out al-Shabab from the Horn of Africa.
Indeed, al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the horrific terrorist attack on the Westgate shopping
mall in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi in 2013 that left scores of victims dead. At the time, the
terror group warned that the Kenyan mall attack was "act one" or "just the premier" in its agenda
to force Kenya to withdraw its troops from Somalia. Clearly, the relentless and ongoing attacks in
2014 were signs that al-Shabab was making good on its nefarious threat.
To that end, less than year later in May 2014, two explosions rocked the Kenyan capital of
Nairobi killing several people and injuring scores more. The two blasts targeted passengers buses
on a busy highway and appeared to have been caused by improvised explosive devices (IEDs)
commonly used by Jihadist terrorists. Around the same period of in May 2014, the area of
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Kasarani to the northeast of Nairobi was also struck by violence, as two other blasts targeted a
hotel and an underpass.
In June 2014, Kenya's coastal area of Mpeketoni was struck by deadly violence. The horrific
incidence of violence rocked the coast close to the resort island of Lamu, ensuing over the course
of two days and leaving as many as 60 people dead. A police station, a number of hotels, and
neighboring villages, were among the targets struck by ongoing raids by gunmen. Many of the
victims were watching World Cup matches at the time of the attacks. It should be noted that
extremist Islamists have deemed the act of watching football matches to be "un-Islamic." As a
result, Kenyan authorities urged citizens to remain at home to watch the 2014 World Cup, rather
than gathering in public places.
Now, as discussed here, the close of the year 2014 was being marked in Kenya by continuing
bloodshed and brutality at the hands of al-Shabab, who seemed intent on punishing Kenya for its
military effort against Islamic terrorism in the Horn of Africa.
President Uhuru Kenyatta has throughout made it clear that Kenya will not withdraw from
Somalia, where its military forces have been involved in a relatively successful African Union
effort to force al-Shabab into a state of retreat from Mogadishu (Somalia's capital). These various
attacks in Kenya likely only served to strengthen the commitment of regional and international
bodies to dismantling and eradicating the terrorist threat posed by al-Shabab. Indeed, since mid2014, Kenya has intensified its air strikes on the Islamist extremist group's bases in Somalia.
With the brutal massacres in Kenya in late 2014 at the hands of al-Shabab, Kenyan President
Uhuru Kenyatta moved to make sweeping changes as regards his national security team. Faced
with growing criticism over the government's failure to do more to protect Kenyans from attacks
from al-Shabab, President Kenyatta on Dec. 2, 2014 sacked the police chief, David Kimaiyo. He
also fired Interior Minister Joseph ole Lenku who managed to retain his post even after the 2013
al-Shabab attack on Nairobi's Westgate shopping mall discussed above. With these moves made,
President Kenyatta urged his opposition critics to shift their attention to national unity, saying, "Our
bickering only emboldens the enemy."
Meanwhile, in the first part of December 2014, al-Shabab continued to be active at home in
Somalia. A car bomb at the Mogadishu international airport struck a United Nations convoy and
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left four people dead. None of the dead were United Nations staffers; the victims included a police
officer and bodyguards working for a contractor. The town of Baidoa to the northwest of
Mogadishu was also struck by a suicide bombing at a restaurant; that attack left five people dead
and more than 20 others injured.
Note that at the end of December 2014, United States air strikes in Somalia reportedly targeted
and killed an al-Shabab leader. Abdishakur, who was also known as Tahliil, led the Amniyat unit
of the terror group deemed to be responsible for a spate of suicide attacks in Mogadishu.
U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Johnson warns of threat to Western shopping centers by alShabab
On Feb. 22, 2015, United States Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson issued a warning to
Westerners regarding possible attacks on shopping centers by the Somalia-based terror group, alShabab. At issue was the emergence of a videotaped message from al-Shabab urging its supporters
to carry out attacks at shopping malls in the United States, Canada, and the United States. An alSahab terrorist with a British accent specifically mentioned three large shopping malls -- the Mall of
America in Minnesota, the West Edmonton Mall in Canada, and Oxford Street in London -- as
desirable targets of attack.
Of significance was the fact that al-Shabab had already carried out a horrific and brutal massacre at
the Westgate shopping mall in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi in 2013, killing close to 70 people.
Given this record of bloodthirsty violence, the United States homeland security chief was taking
this new threat from al-Shabab seriously. In an interview with CNN, Secretary Johnson said,
"Anytime a terrorist organisation calls for an attack on a specific place, we've got to take that
seriously." He further noted that there was a "new phase" of terrorism looming in which attacks
would increasingly come from "independent actors in their homelands."
Deadly attacks by Islamist terror group al-Shabab
The spring of 2015 was marked by a burst of violent attacks by the Islamist terror group, allShabab. One attack in March 2015 targeted a hotel in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia. A
second attack in Mogadishu in April 2015 targeted a government building. Meanwhile, al-Shabab
also manage to carry out a vicious assault at a university in Kenya, yielding a high death toll.
Cumulatively, the attacks made clear that while al-Shabab was under pressure from regional forces,
which had curtailed its consolidation of territory, the militant Islamist group was concentrating its
efforts in the realm of Jihadist terrorism.
In late March 2015, al-Shabab carried out a suicide car bomb attack outside a Mogadishu hotel.
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The attack took place at the Maka al Mukarama hotel in the Somali capital of Mogadishu, which
was popular with diplomats, dignitaries, and business people. After the initial assault, al-Shabab
then raided the hotel, killing more than a dozen people and wounding at least 30 others. Included
in the dead was the Somali ambassador to Switzerland, Yusuf Baribari, as well as several other
government officials. Some diplomats survided the raid by jumping from hotel windows. The
siege ended only after United States-trained Somali troops stormed the hotel. Militants as well as
soldiers were killed in the ensuing clashes. Al-Shabab proudly claimed responsibility for the act of
terrorism, with a spokesperson for the Islamist terror group saying, "We don't consider it to be a
hotel - it's a government base."
In mid-April 2015, al-Shabab carried out a attack at the ministry for higher education. The suicide
car bombing struck the walls of the ministerial compound, resulting in the deaths of several people,
and sparking a lengthy gun battle. Before the attack was concluded, al-Shabab was claiming
responsibility. In an interview with Reuters News, Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab, al-Shabab's
military operations spokesperson declared, "We are inside and fighting goes on!"
In the third week of April 2015, Somalia was again struck by violence at the hands of al-Shabab
when a car bomb exploded outside a restaurant in Mogadishu. Approximately a dozen people were
killed as a result and several more were injured. The Banooda restaurant, located close to the
Central Hotel, was popular spot with politicians and was the clear target of attack. As before,
blame rested with the terror group, al-Shabab, which has made clear that politicians were favored
targets for attack.
Around the same period, there was an attack on a United Nations vehicle in Garowe, the main city
of the Puntland region; at least seven people died as a result. Al-Shabab wasted no time in taking
responsibility for that attack, making clear that its effects would be felt across Somalia.
Earlier, at the start of April 2015, al-Shabab, launched a violent terror attack at a university in
northeastern Kenya, relatively close to the border with Somalia. Terrorists from al-Shabab
stormed the Garissa College University, opening fire, and targeting non-Muslims. At least 145
people were killed while scores more were wounded. The terrorists identified Muslim students
and released them, preferring to target the Christian students instead.
It should be noted that the Somali-based terror group has made Kenya a favorite terror target,
justifying its brutality on the basis of Kenya's military engagement as part of a multilateral coalition
fighting al-Shabab in Somalia. Al-Shabab spokesperson Ali Mohamud Rage was on the record, as
he declared, "We are uncompromising in our beliefs, relentless in our pursuit, ruthless against the
disbelievers and we will do whatever necessary to defend our Muslim brethren suffering from
Kenya’s aggression."
It should also be noted that al-Shabab began as an Islamist entity battling the weak government of
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outside of Somalia. Kenya has thus become a preferred target for al-Shabab due to that country's
involvement in a multilateral military effort to rout out al-Shabab from the Horn of Africa.
Significantly, al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the horrific terrorist attack on the Westgate
shopping mall in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi in 2013 that left scores of victims dead. At the
time, the terror group warned that the Kenyan mall attack was "act one" or "just the premier" in
its agenda to force Kenya to withdraw its troops from Somalia. Clearly, the relentless and ongoing
attacks in 2014 and 2015 in Kenya close to the border with Somalia were signs that al-Shabab was
making good on its nefarious threat, while also making it clear that the entire border region was
vulnerable to terrorism.
Note that on April 6, 2015, Kenya launched air strikes on terror training bases in Somalia.
Kenyan military authorities made a point of noting that the air strikes were not being carried out in
retaliation to the Garissa massacre, but were simply the latest phase of ongoing operations against
al-Shabab in Somalia that commenced as an Africa Union mission in 2011. In an interview with
BBC News, a Kenyan military spokesperson, David Obonyo, said, "The bombings are part of the
continued process and engagement against al-Shabab, which will go on."
For its part, al-Shabab was basking in its latest successful operation in barbarism. Reiterating that
Kenya was in its crosshairs for the long haul, the Somali Islamist terror group declared a "long,
gruesome war" against Kenya.
Terror group al-Shabab carries out attacks in Kenya and Somalia
Kenya has been under an enduring terror threat from the Somalia-based Islamist terror group, alShabab for several years. The latest manifestation of violence at the hands of al-Shabab in Kenya
occurred in the first week of July 2015, when Islamist terrorists from al-Shabab carried out an
attack at a military camp in Madera county of Kenya close to the border with Somalia. The
assailants appeared to have detonated explosives before opening fire in the middle of the night. As
many as 14 people were killed as a result, with several more individuals being injured. The victims
were believed to be workers from a nearby quarry. Somalia-based al-Shabab wasted little time in
claiming responsibility for the bloodshed. Mandera was a prime spot for al-Shabab given the fact
that the terror group carried out an attack at a quarry in the area in late 2014, killing dozens of
quarry workers in that attack.
More recently, in April 2015, al-Shabab terrorists carried out a massacre at the Garissa University
in northeastern Kenya yielding a massive death toll. The massacre was the worst single terror
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attack by al-Shabab on Kenyan territory. It marked the latest act of brutality by the Islamist terror
group against Kenya, which was participating in a joint regional operation aimed at eradicating the
terrorist threat posed by al-Shabab in the region. Al-Shabab's other notorious terror attack on
Kenyan soil took place in 2013 when the terror group carried out a brazen and brutal assault on the
Westgate shopping mall in the Kenyan capital city of Nairobi killing dozens of people.
Meanwhile, al-Shabab remained active at home in Somalia. On July 10, 2015, the terror group
launched at attack at the Wehliya Hotel in Mogadishu, killing at least six civilians. Somali
authorities said that one assailant used a car bombing to commence the attack at the gate of the
hotel, leading to the deaths of the victims. Somali security forces responded and three terrorists
were killed in the ensuing melee. There were reports of a second attack and ensuing siege at a
second hotel in Mogadishu on the same day.
The attacks made clear that despite a regional effort to vanquish the terror group, al-Shabab
remained a menace not only at home in Somalia, but also across the border in Kenya. In fact, alShabab was continuing its campaign of aggression against Kenya in retaliation for that country's
involvement in the regional anti-Shabab effort.
Government Update:
In late September 2015, an ongoing contretemps in Somalia involving the executive and legislative
branches of government ended peacefully when the parliament dropped its impeachment motion
against the president.
Going back to August 2015, Somali members of parliament filed a motion to dismiss President
Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on the basis of accusations of abuse of office. According to
Parliamentary Speaker Mohamed Sheikh Osman Jawari, 93 members of parliament filed the
motion, effectively crossing the 90 member threshold to sign a motion that would be debated in
parliament. As such, the motion would likely be advanced in parliament; however, a much tougher
threshold of 275 parliamentary votes in favor of the motion would be needed to actually dismiss
the president. For its part, the office of the president released a statement acknowledging the
motion and expressing respect for the role of parliament in governance.
By the end of September 2015, the contretemps between the executive and legislative branches of
government came to an end when Parliamentary Speaker Mohamed Sheikh Osman Jawari
announced that the impeachment motion against President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud would be
withdrawn. It seemed that the higher 275 vote threshold in parliament to sustain the impeachment
motion would not be easily reached, since the majority of the members of parliament preferred to
resolve their differences with the president through dialogue. To that end, a meeting was
scheduled for Oct. 7, 2015. Parliamentary Speaker Mohamed Sheikh Osman Jawari made the
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announcement saying, "We have dropped the motion against the president." He noted that the
decision was in the best interests of the country, as he added, "This also came after considering the
political, security and economic situation of the country."
It should be noted that the cadre of 93 members of parliament opposed to President Hassan Sheikh
Mohamud had not abandoned their grievances. One lawmaker, Mohamed Abdullahi Fadhaye,
said in an interview with Reuters News that he was not supportive of the move to drop the
impeachment motion and pursue dialogue. Instead, he declared, "We have neither discussed nor
given up the motion. We shall take the matter to the court."
Al-Shabab carries out terror attack on hotel in Somali capital of Mogadishu
On Nov. 1, 2015, the Islamist terror group, al-Shabab, carried out a terror attack at the Sahafi hotel
in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, which was a popular venue for members of government. The
attack actually entailed two initial car bombings followed by a raid of the Sahafi Hotel by
gunmen. The attack triggered a gun battle with joint government and African Union forces, which
finally neutralized the violence but not before 15 people had been killed. Included in the dead
were the owner of the hotel, one member of parliament, and a general involved in the major
military operation that ousted al-Shabab from Mogadishu four years earlier.
Attacks plague Somali capital of Mogadishu
At the start of June 2016, terrorists carried out an attack on the Ambassador Hotel in the Somali
capital of Mogadishu, leaving at least 10 people dead and scores more wounded. The assailants
used a car bomb at the gates of the hotel to commence the attack, and then exploited the
distraction to storm the hotel itself. Among the dead at the hotel was a member of parliament.
Editor's Note:
Somalia has had no real central government since 1991. Indeed, Somalia has lacked any
internationally recognized central government since the fall of the Siad Barre regime in 1991. In
recent years, despite the establishment of a fragile transitional government, the country has been
controlled by various political and regional factions, as well as local warlords and Islamic militias.
In its heyday, the al-Shabab Islamic militia held sway in the early 2000s in Somalia, but was and
driven from the Somali capital of Mogadishu in 2006 following an intervention by Ethiopian troops
into Somali territory on behalf of the weak transitional government of Somalia. Since that time,
resurgent al-Shabab Islamists have been launching a violent insurgency. A ceasefire pact between
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the Somali government and al-Shabab in 2008 had little positive effect since some factions did not
sign onto the deal.
From the start of the fresh insurgency, although no official figures are available, estimates suggest
that tens of thousands have died and hundreds of thousands have been made homeless by the
fighting in Mogadishu. As people have been forced to flee their homes in search of safety, there
are now as many as one million people are internal refugees in Somalia. With the state of
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barbarism.
in the form of continuing attacks that targeted Kenya. Most of the 2014 attacks occurred in towns
In 2015, al-Shabab was extending its Jihadist ambitions with a call for supporters to carry out terror
attacks at popular shopping malls in the West. In fact, al-Shabab was urging sympathizers and
allies to launch mall attacks reminiscent of its own Westgate massacre in Kenya to be carried out
in Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom. But before such an end could take place,
in the spring of 2015, Kenya was targeted again by al-Shabab, with more than 145 people dying
Garissa University at the hands of al-Shabab terrorists. While Kenya vowed a strong response, it
was apparent that al-Shabab continued to function and to carry out brutal terror cross-border
attacks with relative impunity, even declaring a "long and gruesome" war against Kenya. As the
year 2015 continued, al-Shabab made good on its threats as it continued to carry out attacks on
Kenyan soil in the border area with Somalia. However, al-Shabab was also continuing its assault
on Somali soil, and as of 2016, ensuring that several years later it remained a threat to national
security.
two "republics" in the north. The former British colony of Somaliland -- consisting of five districts
in the — opposition declared independence in 1991, and the northeastern region -- known as
Puntland—declared autonomy in 1998. Neither is recognized as a sovereign independent state.
-- June 2016
Written by Dr. Denise Youngblood Coleman, Editor in Chief, CountryWatch.com
See Bibliography for list of general research sources. Supplementary sources: Africanews.org,
Prunier, Drysdale, Africa Watch, SIPR; Africanews.org; the United Nations; International Crisis
Group; Somalilandgov.com; Somaliland.org; Africa Confidential; Moszyniski, Peter; McKinley,
James; Huliaras, Asteris; Prunier, Gerard; Menkhous, Ken; Clarke, Walter; Herbst, Jeffrey.
Somalia Review 2016
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The Political Risk Index is a proprietary index measuring the level of risk posed to governments,
corporations, and investors, based on a myriad of political and economic factors. The Political Risk
Index is calculated using an established methodology by CountryWatch's Editor-in-Chief and is
based on varied criteria* including the following consideration: political stability, political
representation, democratic accountability, freedom of expression, security and crime, risk of
conflict, human development, jurisprudence and regulatory transparency, economic risk, foreign
investment considerations, possibility of sovereign default, and corruption. Scores are assigned
from 0-10 using the aforementioned criteria. A score of 0 marks the highest political risk, while a
score of 10 marks the lowest political risk. Stated differently, countries with the lowest scores pose
the greatest political risk. A score of 0 marks the most dire level of political risk and an ultimate
nadir, while a score of 10 marks the lowest possible level of political risk, according to this
proprietary index. Rarely will there be scores of 0 or 10 due to the reality that countries contain
complex landscapes; as such, the index offers a range of possibilities ranging from lesser to greater
risk.
Somalia Review 2016
Country
Assessment
Afghanistan
2
Albania
4
Algeria
6
Andorra
9
Somalia
Somalia Review 2016
Angola
4
Antigua
8
Argentina
4
Armenia
4-5
Australia
9.5
Austria
9.5
Azerbaijan
4
Bahamas
8.5
Bahrain
6
Bangladesh
3.5
Barbados
8.5-9
Belarus
3
Belgium
9
Belize
8
Benin
5
Bhutan
5
Bolivia
5
Bosnia-Herzegovina
4
Somalia
Somalia Review 2016
Botswana
7
Brazil
7
Brunei
7
Bulgaria
6
Burkina Faso
4
Burma (Myanmar)
4.5
Burundi
3
Cambodia
4
Cameroon
5
Canada
9.5
Cape Verde
6
Central African Republic
3
Chad
4
Chile
9
China
7
China: Hong Kong
8
China: Taiwan
8
Colombia
7
Somalia
Somalia Review 2016
Comoros
5
Congo DRC
3
Congo RC
4
Costa Rica
8
Cote d'Ivoire
4.5
Croatia
7
Cuba
4-4.5
Cyprus
5
Czech Republic
8
Denmark
9.5
Djibouti
4.5
Dominica
7
Dominican Republic
6
East Timor
5
Ecuador
6
Egypt
5
El Salvador
7
Equatorial Guinea
4
Somalia
Somalia Review 2016
Eritrea
3
Estonia
8
Ethiopia
4
Fiji
5
Finland
9
Fr.YugoslavRep.Macedonia
5
France
9
Gabon
5
Gambia
4
Georgia
5
Germany
9.5
Ghana
6
Greece
4.5-5
Grenada
8
Guatemala
6
Guinea
3.5
Guinea-Bissau
3.5
Guyana
4.5
Somalia
Somalia Review 2016
Haiti
3.5
Holy See (Vatican)
9
Honduras
4.5-5
Hungary
7
Iceland
8.5-9
India
7.5-8
Indonesia
6
Iran
3.5-4
Iraq
2.5-3
Ireland
8-8.5
Israel
8
Italy
7.5
Jamaica
6.5-7
Japan
9
Jordan
6.5
Kazakhstan
6
Kenya
5
Kiribati
7
Somalia
Somalia Review 2016
Korea, North
1
Korea, South
8
Kosovo
4
Kuwait
7
Kyrgyzstan
4.5
Laos
4.5
Latvia
7
Lebanon
5.5
Lesotho
6
Liberia
3.5
Libya
2
Liechtenstein
9
Lithuania
7.5
Luxembourg
9
Madagascar
4
Malawi
4
Malaysia
8
Maldives
4.5
Somalia
Somalia Review 2016
Mali
4
Malta
8
Marshall Islands
6
Mauritania
4.5-5
Mauritius
7
Mexico
6.5
Micronesia
7
Moldova
5
Monaco
9
Mongolia
5
Montenegro
6
Morocco
6.5
Mozambique
4.5-5
Namibia
6.5-7
Nauru
6
Nepal
4
Netherlands
9.5
New Zealand
9.5
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Somalia Review 2016
Nicaragua
5
Niger
4
Nigeria
4.5
Norway
9.5
Oman
7
Pakistan
3.5
Palau
7
Panama
7.5
Papua New Guinea
5
Paraguay
6.5-7
Peru
7
Philippines
6
Poland
8
Portugal
7.5
Qatar
7.5
Romania
5.5
Russia
5.5
Rwanda
5
Somalia
Somalia Review 2016
Saint Kitts and Nevis
8
Saint Lucia
8
Saint Vincent and Grenadines
8
Samoa
7
San Marino
9
Sao Tome and Principe
5.5
Saudi Arabia
6
Senegal
6
Serbia
5
Seychelles
7
Sierra Leone
4.5
Singapore
9
Slovak Republic (Slovakia)
8
Slovenia
8
Solomon Islands
6
Somalia
2
South Africa
7
Spain
7.5
Somalia
Somalia Review 2016
Sri Lanka
5
Sudan
3.5
Suriname
5
Swaziland
5
Sweden
9.5
Switzerland
9.5
Syria
2
Tajikistan
4.5
Tanzania
6
Thailand
6.5
Togo
4.5
Tonga
7
Trinidad and Tobago
8
Tunisia
6
Turkey
7
Turkmenistan
4.5
Tuvalu
7
Uganda
6
Somalia
Ukraine
3.5-4
United Arab Emirates
7
United Kingdom
9
United States
9.5
Uruguay
8
Uzbekistan
4
Vanuatu
7
Venezuela
4
Vietnam
5
Yemen
3
Zambia
4.5
Zimbabwe
3
*Methodology
The Political Risk Index is calculated by CountryWatch's Editor-in-Chief and is based on the
combined scoring of varied criteria as follows -1. political stability (record of peaceful transitions of power, ability of government to stay in office
and carry out policies as a result of productive executive-legislative relationship, perhaps with
popular support vis a vis risk of government collapse)
2. political representation (right of suffrage, free and fair elections, multi-party participation, and
influence of foreign powers)
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3. democratic accountability (record of respect for political rights, human rights, and civil liberties,
backed by constitutional protections)
4. freedom of expression (media freedom and freedom of expression, right to dissent or express
political opposition, backed by constitutional protections)
5. security and crime (the degree to which a country has security mechanisms that ensures safety
of citizens and ensures law and order, without resorting to extra-judicial measures)
6. risk of conflict (the presence of conflict; record of coups or civil disturbances; threat of war;
threats posed by internal or external tensions; threat or record of terrorism or insurgencies)
7. human development (quality of life; access to education; socio-economic conditions; systemic
concern for the status of women and children)
8. jurisprudence and regulatory transparency (the impartiality of the legal system, the degree of
transparency within the regulatory system of a country and the durability of that structure)
9. economic conditions (economic stability, investment climate, degree of nationalization of
industries, property rights, labor force development)
10. corruption ( the degree of corruption in a country and/or efforts by the government to address
graft and other irregularities)
Editor's Note:
As of 2015, the current climate of upheaval internationally -- both politically and economically -has affected the ratings for several countries across the world.
North Korea, Afghanistan, Somalia, and Zimbabwe -- retain their low rankings.
Several Middle Eastern and North African countries, such as Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Syria, Iraq
and Yemen were downgraded in recent years due to political instability occurring in the "season of
unrest" sweeping the region since 2011 and continuing today. The worst downgrades affected
Syria where civil war is at play, along with the rampage of terror being carried out by Islamist
terrorists who have also seized control over part of Syrian territory. Iraq has been further
downgraded due to the rampage of Islamist terrorists and their takeover of wide swaths of Iraqi
territory. Libya has also been downgraded further due to its slippage into failed state status; at
issue in Libya have been an ongoing power struggle between rival militias. Yemen continues to
hold steady with a poor ranking due to continued unrest at the hands of Houthi rebels,
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secessinionists, al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, and Islamic State. Its landscape has been
further complicated by the fact that it is now the site of a proxy war between Iran and Saudi
Arabia. Conversely, Tunisia and Egypt have seen slight upgrades as these countries stabilize.
In Africa, Zimbabwe continues to be one of the bleak spots of the world with the Mugabe regime
effectively destroying the country's once vibrant economy, and miring Zimbabwe with an
exceedingly high rate of inflation, debilitating unemployment, devolving public services, and critical
food shortages; rampant crime and political oppression round out the landscape. Somalia also
sports a poor ranking due to the continuing influence of the terror group, al-Shabab, which was not
operating across the border in Kenya. On the upside, Nigeria, which was ineffectively dealing with
the threat posed by the terror group, Boko Haram, was making some strides on the national
security front with its new president at the helm. Mali was slightly upgraded due to its efforts to
return to constitutional order following the 2012 coup and to neutralize the threat of separatists and
Islamists. But the Central African Republic was downgraded due to the takeover of the
government by Muslim Seleka rebels and a continued state of lawlessness in that country. South
Sudan -- the world's newest nation state -- has not been officially included in this assessment;
however, it can be unofficially assessed to be in the vicinity of "3" due to its manifold political and
economic challenges. Burkina Faso, Burundi and Guinea have been downgraded due to political
unrest, with Guinea also having to deal with the burgeoning Ebola crisis.
In Europe, Ukraine was downgraded due to the unrest facing that country following its Maidan
revolution that triggered a pro-Russian uprising in the eastern part of the country. Russia was also
implicated in the Ukrainian crisis due to its intervention on behalf of pro-Russian separatists, as
well as its annexation of the Ukrainian territory of Crimea. Strains on the infrastructure of
southern and eastern European countries, such as Serbia, Croatia, and Hungary, due to an influx of
refugees was expected to pose social and economic challenges, and slight downgrades were made
accordingly. So too, a corruption crisis for the Romanian prime minister has affected the ranking
of that country. Meanwhile, the rankings for Spain, Portugal, Ireland, and Italy were maintained
due to debt woes and the concomitant effect on the euro zone. Greece, another euro zone nation,
was earlier downgraded due to its sovereign debt crisis; however, no further downgrade was added
since the country was able to successfully forge a bailout rescue deal with creditor institutions.
Cyprus' exposure to Greek banks yielded a downgrade in its case.
In Asia, Nepal was downgraded in response to continuous political instability and a constitutional
crisis that prevails well after landmark elections were held. Both India and China retain their
rankings; India holds a slightly higher ranking than China due to its record of democratic
representation and accountability. Increasing violence and political instability in Pakistan resulted in
a downgrade for this country's already low rating. Meanwhile, Singapore retained its strong
rankings due to its continued effective stewardship of the economy and political stability.
In the Americas, ongoing political and economic woes, as well as crime and corruption have
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affected the rankings for Mexico , Guatemala, and Brazil. Argentina was downgraded due to its
default on debt following the failure of talks with bond holders. Venezuela was downgraded due to
its mix of market unfriendly policies and political oppression. For the moment, the United States
maintains a strong ranking along with Canada, and most of the English-speaking countries of the
Caribbean; however, a renewed debt ceiling crisis could cause the United States to be downgraded
in a future edition. Finally, a small but significant upgrade was attributed to Cuba due to its recent
pro-business reforms and its normalization of ties with the Unitd States.
Source:
Dr. Denise Youngblood Coleman, Editor in Chief, CountryWatch Inc. www.countrywatch.com
Updated:
2015
Political Stability
Political Stability
The Political Stability Index is a proprietary index measuring a country's level of stability,
standard of good governance, record of constitutional order, respect for human rights, and overall
strength of democracy. The Political StabilityIndex is calculated using an established methodology*
by CountryWatch's Editor-in-Chief and is based on a given country's record of peaceful
transitions of power, ability of a government to stay in office and carry out its policies vis a vis risk
credible risks of government collapse. Threats include coups, domestic violence and instability,
terrorism, etc. This index measures the dynamic between the quality of a country's government
and the threats that can compromise and undermine stability. Scores are assigned from 0-10 using
the aforementioned criteria. A score of 0 marks the lowest level of political stability and an
ultimate nadir, while a score of 10 marks the highest level of political stability possible, according to
this proprietary index. Rarely will there be scores of 0 or 10 due to the reality that countries
contain complex landscapes; as such, the index offers a range of possibilities ranging from lesser to
greater stability.
Country
Somalia Review 2016
Assessment
Somalia
Somalia Review 2016
Afghanistan
2
Albania
4.5-5
Algeria
5
Andorra
9.5
Angola
4.5-5
Antigua
8.5-9
Argentina
7
Armenia
5.5
Australia
9.5
Austria
9.5
Azerbaijan
5
Bahamas
9
Bahrain
6
Bangladesh
4.5
Barbados
9
Belarus
4
Belgium
9
Somalia
Somalia Review 2016
Belize
8
Benin
5
Bhutan
5
Bolivia
6
Bosnia-Herzegovina
5
Botswana
8.5
Brazil
7
Brunei
8
Bulgaria
7.5
Burkina Faso
4
Burma (Myanmar)
4.5
Burundi
4
Cambodia
4.5-5
Cameroon
6
Canada
9.5
Cape Verde
6
3
Chad
4.5
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Somalia Review 2016
Chile
9
China
7
China: Hong Kong
8
China: Taiwan
8
Colombia
7.5
Comoros
5
Congo DRC
3
Congo RC
5
Costa Rica
9.5
Cote d'Ivoire
3.5
Croatia
7.5
Cuba
4.5
Cyprus
8
Czech Republic
8.5
Denmark
9.5
Djibouti
5
Dominica
8.5
Dominican Republic
7
Somalia
Somalia Review 2016
East Timor
5
Ecuador
7
Egypt
4.5-5
El Salvador
7.5-8
Equatorial Guinea
4.5
Eritrea
4
Estonia
9
Ethiopia
4.5
Fiji
5
Finland
9
Fr.YugoslavRep.Macedonia
6.5
France
9
Gabon
5
Gambia
4.5
Georgia
5
Germany
9.5
Ghana
7
Greece
6
Somalia
Somalia Review 2016
Grenada
8.5
Guatemala
7
Guinea
3.5-4
Guinea-Bissau
4
Guyana
6
Haiti
3.5-4
Holy See (Vatican)
9.5
Honduras
6
Hungary
7.5
Iceland
9
India
8
Indonesia
7
Iran
3.5
Iraq
2.5
Ireland
9.5
Israel
8
Italy
8.5-9
Jamaica
8
Somalia
Somalia Review 2016
Japan
9
Jordan
6
Kazakhstan
6
Kenya
5
Kiribati
8
Korea, North
2
Korea, South
8.5
Kosovo
5.5
Kuwait
7
Kyrgyzstan
5
Laos
5
Latvia
8.5
Lebanon
5.5
Lesotho
5
Liberia
3.5-4
Libya
2
Liechtenstein
9
Lithuania
9
Somalia
Somalia Review 2016
Luxembourg
9.5
Madagascar
4
Malawi
5
Malaysia
8
Maldives
4.5-5
Mali
4.5-5
Malta
9
Marshall Islands
8
Mauritania
6
Mauritius
8
Mexico
6.5-7
Micronesia
8
Moldova
5.5
Monaco
9.5
Mongolia
6.5-7
Montenegro
8
Morocco
7
Mozambique
5
Somalia
Somalia Review 2016
Namibia
8.5
Nauru
8
Nepal
4.5
Netherlands
9.5
New Zealand
9.5
Nicaragua
6
Niger
4.5
Nigeria
4.5
Norway
9.5
Oman
7
Pakistan
3
Palau
8
Panama
8.5
Papua New Guinea
6
Paraguay
8
Peru
7.5
Philippines
6
Poland
9
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Somalia Review 2016
Portugal
9
Qatar
7
Romania
7
Russia
6
Rwanda
5
9
Saint Lucia
9
9
Samoa
8
San Marino
9.5
7
Saudi Arabia
6
Senegal
7.5
Serbia
6.5
Seychelles
8
Sierra Leone
4.5
Singapore
9.5
8.5
Somalia
Somalia Review 2016
Slovenia
9
Solomon Islands
6.5-7
Somalia
2
South Africa
7.5
Spain
9
Sri Lanka
5
Sudan
3
Suriname
5
Swaziland
5
Sweden
9.5
Switzerland
9.5
Syria
2
Tajikistan
4.5
Tanzania
6
Thailand
6
Togo
5
Tonga
7
Trinidad and Tobago
8
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Somalia Review 2016
Tunisia
5
Turkey
7.5
Turkmenistan
5
Tuvalu
8.5
Uganda
6
Ukraine
3.5-4
7
United Kingdom
9
United States
9
Uruguay
8.5
Uzbekistan
4
Vanuatu
8.5
Venezuela
4.5-5
Vietnam
4.5
Yemen
2.5
Zambia
5
Zimbabwe
3
Somalia
*Methodology
The Political Stability Index is calculated by CountryWatch's Editor-in-Chief and is based on the
combined scoring of varied criteria as follows -1. record of peaceful transitions of power ( free and fair elections; adherence to political accords)
2. record of democratic representation, presence of instruments of democracy; systemic
accountability
3. respect for human rights; respect for civil rights
4. strength of the system of jurisprudence, adherence to constitutional order, and good governance
5. ability of a government to stay in office and carry out its policies vis a vis risk credible risks of
government collapse (i.e. government stability versus a country being deemed "ungovernable")
6. threat of coups, insurgencies, and insurrection
7. level of unchecked crime and corruption
8. risk of terrorism and other threats to national security
9. relationship with regional powers and international community; record of bilateral or multilateral
cooperation
10. degree of economic strife (i.e. economic and financial challenges)
Editor's Note:
As of 2015, the current climate of upheaval internationally -- both politically and economically -has affected the ratings for several countries across the world. The usual suspects -- North Korea,
Afghanistan, and Somalia -- retain their low rankings. The reclusive and ultra-dictatorial North
Korean regime, which has terrified the world with its nuclear threats, has exhibited internal
instability. Of note was a cut-throat purge of hundreds of high ranking officials deemed to be a
threat to Kim Jung-un. Despite their attempts to recover from years of lawlessness, war, and
warlordism, both Afghanistan and Somalia continue to be beset by terrorism and turmoil. In
Afghanistan, while international forces have seen success in the effort against the terror group, alQaida, the other Islamist extremist group, the Taliban, continues to carry out a vicious insurgency
using terrorism. In Somalia, while the government attempts to do the nation's business, the terror
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group, al-Shabab continues to make its presence known not only in Somalia, but across the border
into Kenya with devastating results/ Also in this category is Iraq, which continues to be rocked
by horrific violence and terrorism at the hands of Islamic State, which has taken over wide swaths
of Iraqi territory.
Syria, Libya, and Yemen have been added to this unfortunate echelon of the world's most
politically unstable countries. Syria has been mired by the twin hazards of 1. a civil war as rebels
oppose the Assad regime; and 2. the rampage of terror being carried out by Islamic State, which
also seized control over vast portions of Syrian territory. Meanwhile, the post-Qaddhafi landscape
of Libya has devolved into chaos as rival militias battle for control -- the elected government of the
country notwithstanding. Rounding out this grim triad is Yemen, which was dealing with a Houthi
rebellion, secesionists in the south, as well as the threat of terrorism from al-Qaida in the Arabian
Peninsula as well as Islamic State, while also being the site of a proxy war between Shi'a Iran and
Sunni Saudi Arabia.
Meanwhile, several Middle Eastern and North African countries, such as Tunisia, Egypt, and
Bahrain were downgraded in recent years due to political instability occurring in the "season of
unrest" sweeping the region since 2011 and continuing today. All three of these countries have
stabilized in recent years and have been upgraded accordingly. In Bahrain, the landscape had
calmed. In Egypt, the secular military-backed government has generated criticism for its
crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood; however, the country had ratified the presidency via
democratic elections and were on track to hold parliamentary elections as the country moved along
the path of democratization. Perhaps the most impressive story was coming out of Tunisia -- the
country whose Jasmine Revolution sparked the entire Arab Spring -- and where after a few years
of strife, a new progressive constitution was passed into law and a secular government had been
elected to power. Tunisia, Egypt, and Bahrain have seen slight upgrades as these countries
stabilize.
In Africa, the Central African Republic was downgraded the previous year due to the takeover of
the government by Muslim Seleka rebels. Although the country has been trying to emerge from
this crisis, the fact of the matter was that it was difficult to halt the precipitous decline into
lawlessness in that country. Zimbabwe has maintained its consistently poor ranking due to the
dictatorial regime of Mugabe, who continues to hold a tight grip on power, intimidates the
opposition, squashes dissent, and oppresses the white farmer population of the country. Moving in
a slightly improved direction is Nigeria, which has sported abysmal ratings due to the government's
fecklessness in dealing with the threat posed by the Islamist terror group, Boko Haram. Under its
newly-elected government, there appears to be more of a concerted effort to make national
security a priority action item. Mali was also slightly upgraded due to its efforts to return to
constitutional order following the 2012 coup and to neutralize the threat of separatists and
Islamists. Political instability has visited Burkina Faso and Burundi as the leaders of those
countries attempted to side-step constitutional limits to hold onto power. In Burundi, an attempted
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coup ensued but quelled, and the president won a (questionable) new term in office; unrest has
since punctuated the landscape. In Burkina Faso, the political climate has turned stormy as a result
of a successful coup that ended the rule of the president, and then a putsch against the transitional
government. These two African countries have been downgraded as a result.
It should be noted that the African country of South Sudan -- the world's newest nation state -- has
not been officially included in this assessment; however, it can be unofficially assessed to be in the
vicinity of "3" due to its manifold political and economic challenges. Guinea has endured poor
rankings throughout, but was slightly downgraded further over fears of social unrest and the Ebola
heath crisis.
In Europe, Ukraine was downgraded due to the unrest facing that country following its Maidan
revolution that triggered a pro-Russian uprising in the eastern part of the country. Russia was also
implicated in the Ukrainian crisis due to its intervention on behalf of pro-Russian separatists, as
well as its annexation of the Ukrainian territory of Crimea. Serbia and Albania were slightly
downgraded due to eruptions of unrest, while Romania was slightly downgraded on the basis of
corruption charges against the prime minister. Spain, Portugal, Ireland, and Italy were downgraded
due to debt woes and the concomitant effect on the euro zone. Greece, another euro zone nation,
was downgraded the previous year due to its sovereign debt crisis; however, the country
successfully forged a rescue deal with international creditors and stayed within the Euro zone.
Greek voters rewarded the hitherto unknown upstart party at the polls for these efforts. As a
result, Greece was actually upgraded slightly as it proved to the world that it could endure the
political and economic storms. Meanwhile, Germany, France, Switzerland, the United Kingdom,
the Netherlands, and the Scandinavian countries continue to post impressive ranking consistent
with these countries' strong records of democracy, freedom, and peaceful transfers of power.
In Asia, Nepal was downgraded in response to continuous political instability well after landmark
elections that prevails today. Cambodia was very slighly downgraded due to post-election
instability that has resulted in occasional flares of violence. Despite the "trifecta of tragedy" in
Japan in 2011 -- the earthquake, the ensuing tsunami, and the resulting nuclear crisis -- and the
appreciable destabilization of the economic and political terrain therein, this country has only
slightly been downgraded. Japan's challenges have been assessed to be transient, the government
remains accountable, and there is little risk of default. Both India and China retain their rankings;
India holds a slightly higher ranking than China due to its record of democratic representation and
accountability. Increasing violence and political instability in Pakistan resulted in a downgrade for
this country's already low rating.
In the Americas, Haiti retained its downgraded status due to ongoing political and economic woes.
Mexico was downgraded due to its alarming rate of crime. Guatemala was downgraded due to
charges of corruption, the arrest of the president, and uncertainty over the outcome of elections.
Brazil was downgraded due to the corruption charges erupting on the political landscape, the
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stalling of the economy, and the increasingly loud calls for the impeachment of President
Rousseff. Argentina was downgraded due to its default on debt following the failure of talks with
bond holders. Venezuela was downgraded due to the fact that the country's post-Chavez
government is every bit as autocratic and nationalistic, but even more inclined to oppress its
political opponents. Colombia was upgraded slightly due to efforts aimed at securing a peace deal
with the FARC insurgents. A small but significant upgrade was attributed to Cuba due to its recent
pro-business reforms and its normalization of ties with the Unitd States. Meanwhile, the United
States, Canada, Costa Rica, Panama, and most of the English-speaking countries of the Caribbean
retain their strong rankings due to their records of stability and peaceful transfers of power.
In the Pacific, Fiji was upgraded due to its return to constitutional order and democracy with the
holding of the first elections in eight years.
In Oceania, Maldives has been slightly downgraded due to the government's continued and rather
relentless persecution of the country's former pro-democracy leader - former President Nasheed.
Source:
Dr. Denise Youngblood Coleman, Editor in Chief, CountryWatch Inc. www.countrywatch.com
Updated:
2015
Freedom Rankings
Freedom Rankings
Freedom in the World
Editor's Note: This ranking by Freedom House quantifies political freedom and civil liberties into a
single combined index on each sovereign country's level of freedom and liberty. The initials "PR"
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and "CL" stand for Political Rights and Civil Liberties, respectively. The number 1 represents the
most free countries and the number 7 represents the least free. Several countries fall in the
continuum in between. The freedom ratings reflect an overall judgment based on survey results.
Country
Afghanistan
PR
6?
CL
Freedom Status
6
Not Free
Albania*
3
3
Partly Free
Algeria
6
5
Not Free
Andorra*
1
1
Free
Angola
6
5
Not Free
2
Free
Antigua and Barbuda*
3?
Argentina*
2
2
Free
Armenia
6
4
Partly Free
Australia*
1
1
Free
Austria*
1
1
Free
Azerbaijan
6
5
Not Free
Bahamas*
1
1
Free
Bahrain
6?
5
Bangladesh*
3?
4
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Trend
Arrow
Not Free ?
Partly Free
Somalia
Barbados*
1
1
Free
Belarus
7
6
Not Free
Belgium*
1
1
Free
Belize*
1
2
Free
Benin*
2
2
Free
Bhutan
4
5
Partly Free
Bolivia*
3
3
Partly Free
Bosnia-Herzegovina*
4
3
Partly Free
2
Free
Botswana*
3?
Brazil*
2
2
Free
Brunei
6
5
Not Free
Bulgaria*
2
2
Free
Burkina Faso
5
3
Partly Free
Burma
7
7
Not Free
Burundi*
4
5
Partly Free
⇑
Cambodia
6
5
Not Free
⇓
Cameroon
6
6
Not Free
Canada*
1
1
Free
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Somalia
Cape Verde*
1
1
Free
5
5
Partly Free
Chad
7
6
Not Free
Chile*
1
1
Free
China
7
6
Not Free
Colombia*
3
4
Partly Free
Comoros*
3
4
Partly Free
Congo (Brazzaville )
6
5
Not Free
⇓
Congo (Kinshasa)
6
6
Not Free
⇓
Costa Rica*
1
1
Free
Cote d’Ivoire
6
5
Not Free
2
Free
Croatia*
1?
Cuba
7
6
Not Free
Cyprus*
1
1
Free
Czech Republic*
1
1
Free
Denmark*
1
1
Free
Djibouti
5
5
Partly Free
Dominica*
1
1
Free
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Somalia
Dominican Republic*
2
2
Free
East Timor*
3
4
Partly Free
Ecuador*
3
3
Partly Free
Egypt
6
5
Not Free
El Salvador*
2
3
Free
Equatorial Guinea
7
7
Not Free
Eritrea
7
7?
Not Free
Estonia*
1
1
Free
Ethiopia
5
5
Partly Free
Fiji
6
4
Partly Free
Finland*
1
1
Free
France*
1
1
Free
Gabon
6
5?
The Gambia
5
5?
Partly Free
Georgia
4
4
Partly Free
Germany*
1
1
Free
Ghana*
1
2
Free
Greece*
1
2
Free
Somalia Review 2016
⇓
⇓
Not Free ?
Somalia
Grenada*
1
2
Free
4?
4
Partly Free
Guinea
7
6?
Guinea-Bissau*
4
4
Partly Free
Guyana*
2
3
Free
Haiti*
4
5
Partly Free
Honduras
4?
4?
Partly Free
Hungary*
1
1
Free
Iceland*
1
1
Free
India*
2
3
Free
Indonesia*
2
3
Free
Iran
6
6
Not Free
Iraq
5?
6
Not Free
Ireland*
1
1
Free
Israel*
1
2
Free
Italy*
1
2
Free
Jamaica*
2
3
Free
Japan*
1
2
Free
Guatemala*
Somalia Review 2016
Not Free
⇓
Somalia
Jordan
6?
5
Not Free ?
Kazakhstan
6
5
Not Free
Kenya
4
4?
Kiribati*
1
1
Kosovo
5?
4?
Partly Free ?
Kuwait
4
4
Partly Free
6?
5?
Not Free ?
Laos
7
6
Not Free
Latvia*
2
1
Free
Lebanon
5
3?
Partly Free
Lesotho*
3?
3
Partly Free ?
Liberia*
3
4
Partly Free
Libya
7
7
Not Free
Liechtenstein*
1
1
Free
Lithuania*
1
1
Free
Luxembourg*
1
1
Free
Macedonia*
3
3
Partly Free
Madagascar
6?
4?
Partly Free
Kyrgyzstan
Somalia Review 2016
⇓
Partly Free
Free
⇑
Somalia
Malawi*
3?
4
Partly Free
Malaysia
4
4
Partly Free
Maldives*
3?
4
Partly Free
Mali*
2
3
Free
Malta*
1
1
Free
Marshall Islands*
1
1
Free
Mauritania
6
5
Not Free
Mauritius*
1
2
Free
Mexico*
2
3
Free
Micronesia*
1
1
Free
Moldova*
3?
4
Partly Free
Monaco*
2
1
Free
Mongolia*
2
2
Free
Montenegro*
3
2?
Free ?
Morocco
5
4
Partly Free
4?
3
Partly Free
Namibia*
2
2
Free
Nauru*
1
1
Free
Mozambique
Somalia Review 2016
⇓
⇑
⇓
Somalia
Nepal
4
4
Partly Free
Netherlands*
1
1
Free
New Zealand*
1
1
Free
Nicaragua*
4
4?
Partly Free
5?
4
Partly Free
Nigeria
5
4
Partly Free
⇓
North Korea
7
7
Not Free
⇓
Norway*
1
1
Free
Oman
6
5
Not Free
Pakistan
4
5
Partly Free
Palau*
1
1
Free
Panama*
1
2
Free
Papua New Guinea*
4
3
Partly Free
Paraguay*
3
3
Partly Free
Peru*
2
3
Free
Philippines
4
3
Partly Free
Poland*
1
1
Free
Portugal*
1
1
Free
Niger
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⇓
Somalia
Qatar
6
5
Not Free
Romania*
2
2
Free
Russia
6
5
Not Free
Rwanda
6
5
Not Free
Saint Kitts and Nevis*
1
1
Free
Saint Lucia*
1
1
Free
Saint Vincent and
Grenadines*
2
1
Free
Samoa*
2
2
Free
San Marino*
1
1
Free
Sao Tome and Principe*
2
2
Free
Saudi Arabia
7
6
Not Free
Senegal*
3
3
Partly Free
Serbia*
2?
2
Free
Seychelles*
3
3
Partly Free
Sierra Leone*
3
3
Partly Free
Singapore
5
4
Partly Free
Slovakia*
1
1
Free
Slovenia*
1
1
Free
Somalia Review 2016
⇓
⇓
Somalia
Solomon Islands
4
3
Partly Free
Somalia
7
7
Not Free
South Africa*
2
2
Free
South Korea*
1
2
Free
Spain*
1
1
Free
Sri Lanka*
4
4
Partly Free
Sudan
7
7
Not Free
Suriname*
2
2
Free
Swaziland
7
5
Not Free
Sweden*
1
1
Free
Switzerland*
1
1
Free
Syria
7
6
Not Free
Taiwan*
1?
2?
Tajikistan
6
5
Not Free
Tanzania
4
3
Partly Free
Thailand
5
4
Partly Free
Togo
5
4?
Partly Free
Tonga
5
3
Partly Free
Somalia Review 2016
⇓
Free
Somalia
Trinidad and Tobago*
2
2
Free
Tunisia
7
5
Not Free
Turkey*
3
3
Partly Free
Turkmenistan
7
7
Not Free
Tuvalu*
1
1
Free
Uganda
5
4
Partly Free
Ukraine*
3
2
Free
6
5
Not Free
United Kingdom*
1
1
Free
United States*
1
1
Free
Uruguay*
1
1
Free
Uzbekistan
7
7
Not Free
Vanuatu*
2
2
Free
Venezuela
5?
4
Partly Free
Vietnam
7
5
Not Free
Yemen
6?
5
Not Free ?
3
4?
6?
6
Zambia*
Zimbabwe
Somalia Review 2016
⇓
⇓
Partly Free
Not Free
Somalia
Methodology:
PR and CL stand for political rights and civil liberties, respectively; 1 represents the most free and
7 the least free rating. The ratings reflect an overall judgment based on survey results.
? ? up or down indicates a change in political rights, civil liberties, or status since the last survey.
⇑ ⇓ up or down indicates a trend of positive or negative changes that took place but that were
not sufficient to result in a change in political rights or civil liberties ratings of 1-7.
* indicates a country’s status as an electoral democracy.
Source:
This data is derived from the latest edition of Freedom House’s Freedom in the World 2010
edition.
Available at URL: http://www.freedomhouse.org
Updated:
Reviewed in 2015
Human Rights
Human Rights in Somalia
Overview
Somalia is currently a transitional parliamentary federal government. It has been without a true
central government since 1991. It is split into three autonomous areas: the self-declared
Somaliland, the State of Puntland, and the Transitional Federal Government (TFG).
Overall, Somalia’s human rights record remains poor. Variables such as drought, floods, the 2005
tsunami, poverty, inter-clan fighting, and the displacement of more than 400,000 people have
negatively affected an already poor human rights situation.
Citizens in Somalia do not have the full ability to change their government due to the lack of an
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established central authority. Restrictions on freedoms of speech, press, assembly, movement,
association, and religion persist. Privacy rights of citizens are also limited.
Arbitrary arrest and detention as well as torture, rape and beatings at the hands of the security
forces remain problems. Kidnapping is also an issue, particularly in Mogadishu. Politicallymotivated killings and extrajudicial killings often occur.
Prison conditions remained harsh and life threatening. In most regions, the judicial system relies on
some combination of traditional and customary justice, Shari'a (Islamic) law, and the pre-1991
Penal Code. Fair trials are rare and if one occurs, a lengthy pretrial detention is likely to
accompany it.
Child abuse, persecution of and religious minorities in various clan regions, and human trafficking
persist. Child labor, forced labor, and restrictions on workers rights are also areas of concern.
Human rights defenders in Somalia risk their lives when they campaign for the respect of human
rights and report on the nation's atrocities. Many who are not native to Somalia have left the
region, while a few stay and continue to speak out.
Human Development Index (HDI) Rank:
Not Ranked; see full listing of the Human Development Index located in the Social Overview of
this report for list of ranked countries.
Human Poverty Index Rank:
Not Ranked
Gini Index:
N/A
Life Expectancy at Birth (years):
49 years
Unemployment Rate:
N/A
Population living on $1 a day (%):
N/A
Population living on $2 a day (%):
N/A
Population living beneath the Poverty Line (%):
N/A
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Internally Displaced People:
400,000
Total Crime Rate (%):
N/A
Health Expenditure (% of GDP):
Public: N/A
% of GDP Spent on Education:
N/A
Human Rights Conventions Party to:
• International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment and Punishment of the Crime of
Genocide
• International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
• International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
• International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
• Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
• Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
• Conventions on the Rights of the Child (Signed but not yet ratified)
• Convention relating to the Status of Refugees
*Human Development Index (HDI) is a composite index that measures the level of well-being in
177 nations in the world. It uses factors such as poverty, literacy, life-expectancy, education, gross
domestic product, and purchasing power parity to assess the average achievements in each nation.
It has been used in the United Nation’s Human Development Report since 1993.
*Human Poverty Index Ranking is based on certain indicators used to calculate the Human
Poverty Index. Probability at birth of not surviving to age 40, adult literacy rate, population without
sustainable access to an improved water source, and population below income poverty line are the
indicators assessed in this measure.
*The Gini Index measures inequality based on the distribution of family income or consumption. A
value of 0 represents perfect equality (income being distributed equally), and a value of 100 perfect
inequality (income all going to one individual).
*The calculation of the total crime rate is the % of the total population which has been effected by
property crime, robbery, sexual assault, assault, or bribery (corruption) related occurrences.
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Somalia
Government Functions
Editor's Note:
internationally-recognized central government since the fall of the Siad Barre regime in 1991. In
In its heydey, the al-Shabab Islamic militia held sway in the early 2000s in Somalia, but was and
sign onto the deal.
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barbarism.
Kenyan soil in the border area with Somalia.
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Executive Branch:
At the executive level, the president is the chief of state and the prime minister is the head of
government.
Legislative Branch:
Unicameral National Parliament or Golaha Shacabka Soomaaliya consists of the House of the
People (275 seats; members directly elected to serve four year terms)
Note that the National Parliament will become bicameral in the future with the formation of an
upper house that will consist of 54 seats with members indirectly elected by regional governing
councils to serve four-year terms.
Judicial Branch:
Following the breakdown of the central government, most regions have reverted to local forms of
conflict resolution, either secular, traditional clan-based arbitration, or Islamic (Shari'a) law with a
provision for appeal of all sentences. That being said, thre is a Transitional Supreme Court
(consists of the chief justice and 3 judges) under the terms of the 2004 Transitional National
Charter (TNC), a Supreme Court based in Mogadishu and an Appeal Court were established.
Constitution:
A new constitution was promulgated in 2012 as part of the transition to stability.
Legal System:
No national system; there is a mixed legal system of civil law, Islamic Shari'a law, and customary
law (referred to as Xeer)
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Notes on Somaliland and Puntland:
Somaliland has established its own government and, by the end of 2001, was more institutionally
developed than the government of Somalia. While the international community does not recognize
it as an independent state, the government of (now deceased) President Mohamed Ibrahim Egal
effectively governed the territory. Somaliland is a highly institutionalized entity with an active
cabinet, legislature and judiciary. The Council of Ministries (cabinet) is appointed by the president
and approved by the legislature. The parliament is bicameral consisting of a House of
Representatives and a House of Elders. After the death of Egal in 2002,Vice-President Dahir
Riyale Kahim was sworn in as President. Presidential elections were held in May 2003 in which
Riyale beat his opponent. Parliamentary elections were held in September 2005. Somaliland’s
stability has been widely acknowledged but it has not received formal recognition from the
international community.
On Aug. 1, 1998, Puntland declared a self-autonomous region to avoid violence, which had
wrecked other parts of Somalia since the ouster of dictator Said Barre in 1991. However, in July
2001 Puntland was thrown into turmoil when Colonel Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed whose term office
as a leader of the regional government had expired, claimed to have extended his tenure for another
three years. The Puntland Supreme Court disqualified him from office and clan elders and an
overwhelming majority of delegates who attended a special conference supported this decision. On
Aug. 26, 2001, militia groups ousted him when he tried to stay in office beyond his term. In late
August 2001 delegates from five regions of Puntland convened in Garowe, the regional capital city
and elected Jama Ali Jama the new president and Ahmed Mahmud Gunle as a vice-president. On
Nov. 21, 2001, gunmen loyal to ousted leader Col Abdullahi Yusuf attacked Garoweh with the
intention of capturing the presidency. The conflict has reverted to an admixture of political and clan
competition for power. The situation became more regional with reports that Ethiopia has sent in
troops to support ousted leader Col. Abdullahi Yusuf. Gen Ade Musa took over the leadership.
Names:
Conventional long form:
None
Conventional short form:
Somalia
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Former:
Somali Republic
Type:
None; no permanent national government; transitional, parliamentary federal government
Editor's Note:
sign onto the deal.
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barbarism.
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Executive Branch:
Head of State:
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud (elected in 2012); see "Elections Primer" below for
information about 2012 elections
Note:
A transitional governing entity with a five-year mandate, known as the Transitional Federal
Institutions (TFIs), was established in October 2004; the TFIs relocated to Somalia in June 2004;
in 2011, the TFIs were given a one-year extension to 2012.
Timetable for Political Transition:
Primer on 2012 Elections in Somalia:
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presidency.
Note on Somali parliament and prime minister -A no-confidence vote in the parliament of Somalia ended the tenure of Prime Minister Abdi Farah
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Somalia
Less than a year later, on Nov. 11, 2014, the parliament of Somalia was debating the fate of Prime
Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed. At issue was a looming confidence vote and the question of
whether or not the head of government should be sacked. But supporters of the prime minister
were not about to sit quietly while members of parliament decided his political future. Instead, a
sudden protest erupted with the prime minister's support base blowing whistles, beating on jugs,
and shouting "No Motion!" The disruption forced the parliamentary speaker to bring a halt to the
session and, as a result, the confidence proceedings were placed on hold. Parliamentary Speaker
Mohamed Sheikh Osman said, "Due to noise, we hereby close the session today. Let it be another
day."
That new day ensued on Nov. 15, 2014, but as before, disturbances from supporters of the prime
minister again brought an end to the proceedings, and no confidence vote was able to go forward.
Two days later on Nov. 17, 2014, more than a dozen cabinet ministers signed a petition urging the
prime minister to resign in the interests of national stability and unity. As expected, Prime Minister
Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed rejected this call.
On Nov. 24, 2014, yet another attempt was made in parliament to advance a confidence vote. As
before, the proceedings devolved into chaos as member of parliament supportive of the prime
minister ripped the document covering the attendance register as well as the very copies of the
confidence motion. Once again, the parliamentary speaker was forced to suspend the session.
Prime Minister Ahmed soon announced a cabinet shuffle; however, it was not known in that
development would ease the tensions.
It should be noted that in the backdrop of the parliamentary drama resided the ongoing feud
between Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed and President President Hassan Sheikh
Mohamoud. That feud reached new heights when the prime minister removed some of the
president's stalwarts in a cabinet shuffle. The president reacted by declaring the move to be null
and void since he had not been consulted; the president also ordered all officials to return to their
original duties.
Attempts to broker a resolution between Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed and President
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud ended in failure, setting the stage for the confidence vote
discussed above. That vote occured on Dec. 6, 2014, and ended in the removal of Prime Minister
Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed from office. As many as 153 members of parliament voted to oust
Sheikh Ahmed whereas only 80 votes were registered in his favor.
President Mohamud applauded the move, saying, "I welcome the step taken by the parliament
today. I congratulate those who voted yes and those who voted no, which signals the political
maturity Somalia has reached to solve its internal differences."
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Somalia
Note that as December 2014 came to a close, the Somali parliament approved the appointment of
Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke as the country's new prime minister, replacing Sheikh Ahmed who
was removed, as discussed above. Sharmarke had experience as head of government, having
served as prime minister in 2009 and 2010. Following the vote in parliament approving
Sharmarke as the new prime minister, he said, "I will soon name an all-inclusive cabinet of
ministers." He added, "I assure you that there will be no political conflict, everything will be solved
through consultation and discussion."
Legislative Branch:
National Parliament:
Unicameral National Parliament or Golaha Shacabka Soomaaliya consists of the House of the
People (275 seats; members directly elected to serve four year terms)
Note that the National Parliament will become bicameral in the future with the formation of an
upper house that will consist of 54 seats with members indirectly elected by regional governing
councils to serve four-year terms.
presidency.
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Somali parliament ousts prime minister; new head of government named -A no-confidence vote in the parliament of Somalia ended the tenure of Prime Minister Abdi Farah
Judicial Branch:
Following the breakdown of the central government, most regions have reverted to local forms of
conflict resolution, either secular, traditional clan-based arbitration, or Islamic (Shari'a) law with a
provision for appeal of all sentences. That being said, thre is a Transitional Supreme Court
(consists of the chief justice and 3 judges) under the terms of the 2004 Transitional National
Charter (TNC), a Supreme Court based in Mogadishu and an Appeal Court were established.
Constitution:
The new Constitution became permanent in 2012
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Somalia
.
Legal System:
No national system; there is a mixed legal system of civil law, Islamic Shari'a law, and customary
law (referred to as Xeer)
Administrative Divisions:
18 regions (plural - n.a., singular - "gobolka"): Awdal, Bakool, Banaadir, Bari, Bay, Galguduud,
Gedo, Hiiraan, Jubbada Dhexe, Jubbada Hoose, Mudug, Nugaal, Sanaag, Shabeellaha Dhexe,
Shabeellaha Hoose, Sool, Togdheer, and Woqooyi Galbeed
Political Parties and Leaders:
Numerous clans are fighting for power
.
Principal Government Officials
Leadership and Government of Somalia
Pres. HASSAN SHEIKH Mohamud
Prime Min. Omar Abdirashid Ali SHARMARKE
Dep. Prime Min. Ridwan HIRSI Mohamed
Min. of Agriculture Ahmed Hassan GABOBE
Min. of Animals, Plants, & Pasture Salim Aliyow IBROW
Min. of Commerce & Industry Adan Mohamed NUUR
Min. of Communication & Press Mohamed Ibrahim Haji ADAN
Min. of Constitutional Affairs Hussein Mohamed SHEIKH
Min. of Defense Abdulkadir Sheikh Ali DINI, Gen.
Min. of Education Khadar Bashir ALI
Min. of Energy & Water Mohamed Hassan ADAN
Min. of Finance Mohamed Aden IBRAHIM
Min. of Fishing & Maritime Resources Mohamed Omar EYMOY
Min. of Foreign Affairs & Intl. Cooperation Abdusalam OMER
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Min. of Gen. Activities & Rebuilding Nadifo Mohamed OSMAN
Min. of Health Hawa Hassan MOHAMED
Min. of Human Resources & Labor Abdiweli Ibrahim Sheikh MUUDEEY
Min. of Information Mohamed Abdi HAYIR
Min. of Interior & Federalism Abdurahman Mohamed HUSSEIN
Min. of Justice Abdullahi Ahmed JAMA
Min. of Livestock Said Hussein IID
Min. of Mineral Resources & Petroleum Mohamed Mukhtar IBRAHIM
Min. of National Security Abdirizak Omar MOHAMED
Min. of Planning & Intl. Cooperation Abdirahman Yousuf Ali AYNTE
Min. of Ports & Maritime Transportation Nur Farah HERSI
Min. of Public Works & Reconstruction Salah Sheikh Osman MUSE
Min. of Religious Affairs Abdulkadir Sheikh Ali IBRAHIM
Min. of Telecommunications & Posts Guled KASIM
Min. of Transport & Aviation Ali Ahmed JAMA
Min. of Women & Family Affairs Sahra Mohamed Ali SAMATAR
Min. of Work & Social Affairs Numan Sheikh ISAMAIL
Min. of Youth & Sports Mohamed Abdullahi HASSAN
Governor, Central Bank Bashir Isse ALI
Ambassador to the US
Permanent Representative to the UN, New York Elmi Ahmed DUALE
-- as of 2015
Leader Biography
Leader Biography
Leadership of Somalia
Head of State:
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud (elected in 2012); see "Elections Primer" below for
information about 2012 elections
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Note:
A transitional governing entity with a five-year mandate, known as the Transitional Federal
Institutions (TFIs), was established in October 2004; the TFIs relocated to Somalia in June 2004;
in 2011, the TFIs were given a one-year extension to 2012.
Timetable for Political Transition:
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presidency.
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Foreign Relations
General Relations
Since the fall of the Barre regime, the foreign policy of the various entities in Somalia has centered
on gaining international recognition, winning international support for national reconciliation, and
obtaining international economic assistance.
Regional Relations
The 1977-78 Ogaden War with Ethiopia, although a humiliating defeat for Somalia, had created
deep suspicions in the Horn of Africa concerning the intentions of the Siad Barre regime. The
continuing strain in Somali-Ethiopian relations tended to reinforce these suspicions.
Civil strife in Ethiopia and repressive measures in the Ogaden caused more than 650,000 ethnic
Somalis and Oromo residing in Ethiopia to flee to Somalia by early 1978. The integration of so
many refugees into an essentially agrarian society afflicted by persistent drought was beyond
Somalia's economic capacity. In the absence of a peace agreement, prospects for repatriation
continued to be virtually nonexistent.
For 10 years after the Ogaden War, the Siad Barre government refused to renounce its public
support of the Ethiopian guerrilla organization, the Western Somali Liberation Front, and provided
it with clandestine military assistance to carry out raids inside Ethiopia. Ethiopia's Mengistu
government responded in kind by providing bases, sanctuary, and military assistance to the SSDF
and the SNM.
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Siad Barre's fear of Ethiopian military power induced him in the early 1980s to begin a process of
rapprochement with Somalia's other neighbors, Kenya and the former French territory of Djibouti.
Kenya had long suspected Somalia of encouraging separatist activities among the predominantly
ethnic Somali population in its Northern Frontier District. Following a 1981 summit meeting with
Kenyan president Daniel arap Moi in Nairobi, Siad Barre's public renunciation of any Somali
territorial claims on Kenya helped dissipate mistrust. In November 2001, Kenya reopened its
500km (300 mile) border with Somalia that was closed for three months to stem a flow of illegal
firearms. This action was seen as a continuing effort in the search for peace in Somalia.
Beginning in 1982, both Kenya and Djibouti, apparently encouraged by Siad Barre's stated
willingness to hold direct talks with Mengistu, made diplomatic efforts to mediate between Somalia
and Ethiopia. It was not until 1986, however, that Siad Barre and Mengistu finally agreed to meet.
This first meeting since before the Ogaden War took place in the city of Djibouti and marked the
beginning of a gradual rapprochement. Siad Barre's willingness to defuse the situation along the
Somali-Ethiopian border stemmed from the combined pressures of escalating guerrilla activity,
overt Ethiopian military threats, drought and the destabilizing presence of hundreds of thousands of
Ethiopian refugees. Siad Barre and Mengistu held a second meeting in April 1988, at which they
signed a peace agreement and formally reestablished diplomatic relations. Both leaders agreed to
withdraw their troops from their mutual borders and to cease support for armed dissident groups
trying to overthrow the respective governments in Addis Ababa and Mogadishu.
In 1991, Mengistu in Ethiopia was toppled by Meles Zenawi around the same time that the
government of Siad Barre in Somalia collapsed.
On the international scene, the Somalian leader at the time, Hassan, gathered with other leaders in
New York in October at the opening of the United Nations (U.N.) Millennium Summit where he
gave a speech offering apologies for blood clashes between the U.N. peacekeepers and Somalis in
the 1990s. He also appealed for international support in Somali's effort to search for peace and
reconciliation. Clearly, the fact that Somalis flag was raised at the U.N. headquarters for the first
time in a decade is a welcome recognition of President Abdulkassim Salat Hassan 's interim
government by the U.N. and part of the international community.
Relations with the U.N. devolved, however, in 2002 following the kidnapping of a number of U.N.
aid staffers in Somalia. Allegations of human rights abuses have also soured relations and resulted
in the U.N. call for a war crimes tribunal in Somalia. Meanwhile, the U.N. also evacuated its
staffers due to highly unstable political "in country" conditions.
In November 2000, Somali was also represented at the Inter-Governmental Authority on
Development regional meeting in Khartoum. And on March 1, 2001, President Hassan represented
Somali at the Organization of African Unity summit in Tripoli for the first time in 10 years.
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In March 2001 Ethiopia hosted a new convened Somalia Reconciliation and Restoration Council,
or SRRC, comprising southern Somalia faction leaders opposed to Somalia's Transitional National
Government (TNG) under the chairmanship of Mogadishu faction leader Hussein Aideed. The
hosting of this conference led to the TNG accusing Ethiopia of assisting the activities of warlords
and prolonging the conflict in Somalia.
In April 2001 the then-Somali Prime Minister Ali Khalif Galaydh of the TNG asked the U.N. to
demobilize militia group and increase its peace-building operations in Somalia. For its part,
SRRC was opposed to this idea on the grounds that there was no legitimate authority in Somalia.
It also accused Egypt and Saudi Arabia of funding TNG. All the same, for historical reasons,
geopolitical concerns and national interest, Ethiopia always keeps an eye on what is happening in
Greater Somalia.
In mid-July 2003, the leader of the transitional government in Somalia verbally attacked the
Ethiopian government. Speaking at the African Union summit in Mozambique, President
Abdulkassim Salat Hassan accused Ethiopia of destabilizing Somalia. Specifically, he alleged that
his government in Mogadishu could have done much more in the three years of its existence had it
not been for the daily interference of Ethiopia in Somalia's internal affairs. The Somali president
accused Ethiopia of continuing to violate the arms embargo on Somalia by supplying large
quantities of weapons to warlords opposed to the transitional government. He also claimed that
Ethiopia's policy was to undermine the emergence of a strong, united Somalia -- a country that has
been without an internationally-recognized government for more than 12 years.
Following new elections in the transitional government, new Somalian leadership came to power,
led by Abdullahi Yusuf in 2004. Overall, the situation with Ethiopia continued to be somewhat
problematic despite the fact that Ethiopia, under Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, has publicly
supported the peace process and several years later, became something of an ally to Somalia's new
interim government, led Abdullahi Yusuf. Indeed, anyone threatening to overthrow the Somalian
government would also be dealt with as an aggressor to Ethiopia.
The first part of 2006 saw the increasing ascendancy of Islamist militias in Somalia, to the
detriment of the transitional government. By mid-2006, the Union of Islamic Courts had taken
control of Somalia's capital city of Mogadishu. The city, which had once been in the hands of
warlords, was never safe enough for the country's weak transitional government to be seated
there. Instead, the government had been forced to operate from the city of Baidoa. The fact that
control of Mogadishu had shifted hands from warlords to these Islamist militias was a source of
consternation for the government. Moreover, the ascendancy of the Union of Islamic Courts was
also becoming a matter of concern for the government of Ethiopia, which was opposed to the
Islamist militias and allied with the interim government of Somalia. In fact, the governments of
Ethiopia and Somalia shared strong ties dating back to the 1990s when Ethiopia aided Somalia in
defeating an Islamist militia.
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When the news emerged that the Islamists were making further progress past the capital city, there
were warnings from Ethiopia that it would send its troops into Somalia to protect the interim
government. Ethiopia's threat to intervene on behalf of the Somali government served to raise the
ire of the Islamists. The situation was not helped by reports in August 2006 of sightings of
Ethiopian troops on the ground in Somalia -- a scenario that spurred threats of a "holy war" by the
Islamist leadership against the Ethiopians. But complaints about foreign intervention were also
being levied by the Somali government. At the other end of the equation, there were increasing
suggestions that arms were flowing to the Islamist militias via Eritrea. Although the Eritrean
government denied the charges that it was supplying arms to Islamist militias, the transitional
government of Somalia reacted by declaring its support for an Eritrean rebel group.
As the interest groups entrenched themselves into opposing enclaves, anxieties increased about
regional conflict in the region. Notably, observers began to speculate that Ethiopia and Eritrea were
resuming their hostilities and using Somali terrain as the proxy for a return to war. The presence of
Ethiopian and Eritrean military interests in Somalia served only to magnify the depth of the
problem. In fact, according to the United Nations, there were more than 8,000 Ethiopian troops
operating in Somalia as allies of the weak transitional government. Meanwhile, approximately
2,000 Eritrean troops were said to have been earlier deployed to Somalia to assist the Islamic
Courts.
By December 2006, the Union of Islamic Courts issued a seven-day deadline to Ethiopia, warning
that if Ethiopian troops were not withdrawn from Somalia, they would face imminent attack.
Ethiopia responded by denying that its soldiers were fighting in Somalia, saying instead that
hundreds of its forces were simply assisting the transitional government. In fact, Islamists and
government forces -- apparently aided by Ethiopian troops -- were ensconced in fierce clashes in
mid-December 2006. Ethiopia's head of government, Prime Minister Meles Zenawi dismissed
the deadline and the possibility of attack, noting that such threats were nothing new.
On December 24, 2006, Ethiopia openly admitted that it was carrying out an offensive in Somalia.
The government of Ethiopia acknowledged that its troops were battling militias from the Islamic
Courts. Berhan Hailu, Ethiopia's Information Minister, said in an official statement that his
country's military had been deployed into Somali territory for the purpose of "self-defensive
measures." To this end, Hailu noted, "The Ethiopian government has taken self-defensive
measures and started counter-attacking the aggressive extremist forces of the Islamic Courts and
foreign terrorist groups." His remarks were regarded as a significant break from previous
statements by Ethiopia, which mostly consisted of a variety of denials about its activities in
Somalia.
Now, the reality on the ground in the border areas between Somalia and Ethiopia was characterized
by heavy fighting. In addition to the fierce battles apparently taking place between the Islamists
and the government forces, there were also reports of massive air strikes and shelling by Ethiopian
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fighters upon Islamist-held towns. In an interview with Agence France Presse, Sheikh Hassan
Derrow of the Union of Islamic Courts reacted to these developments in saying, "The enemy of
Allah has started bombing our civilians." He and his Islamist cohorts promised to push back the
advancing Ethiopian troops.
Despite the Islamic Courts' calls to foreign fighters to join in the "holy war" in Somalia against
Ethiopia, the situation on the ground was intensifying. Days later, the conflict was spreading past
the border regions and deeper into Somali territory. There were conflicting reports about the
number of people apparently killed in the fighting.
By December 28, 2006, Ethiopian forces had advanced deep into Somali territory and were now
approaching the capital city of Mogadishu. With imminent attacks upon them, Islamist forces
abandoned Mogadishu after holding control over the city for several months. Reports issued by
the Associated Press indicated that some members of the Islamist militias were abandoning their
duties and pledging their allegiance to elders in the city. There were also reports of gunfire
throughout the city and looting of buildings that had been used by officials of the Union of Islamic
Courts.
At the close of 2006, the transitional government of Somalia, aided by Ethiopian forces, had
control of Mogadishu. Islamist militias had fled the city, with many of their ranks heading toward
the southern city of Kismayo -- one of their few remaining strongholds. Ethiopian troops were
following the Islamists and moving toward Kismayo as well. Islamists then quickly retreated from
Kismayo, even as thousands of civilians fled the port city amidst fears of violence. Such anxieties
had been heightened when news spread that there had been violent clashes between Ethiopian
troops and Islamists in the area of Jilib, to the north of Kismayo.
At the start of 2007, members of the Islamist militias were moving toward the border with Kenya.
The transitional government of Somalia called on Kenya to close its borders. The Kenyan
government responded by saying that it would convene a summit of East African countries to
consider how to deal with the emerging crisis.
Even with the Islamists on the run and with the transitional government now retrieving some of its
power, thanks to Ethiopian military support, the situation in Somalia promised to be challenging.
The government was still faced with the prospect of reaching some sort of agreement with the
Islamists, or risk continued destabilization in a country that had not seen peace and security for
years. While the transitional government called for talks with the Union of Islamic Courts, the
Islamists said that no dialogue was possible until Ethiopian forces exited Somalia. Indeed, the
presence of foreign troops in Somalia was a matter of controversy among locals with divided
loyalties. As a result, Ethiopia promised to depart quickly from Somalia.
In an interview with the British media in mid-January 2007, Prime Minister Meles Zenawi of
Ethiopia said that his country's forces were set to begin its withdrawal from Somalia. The
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Ethiopian leader said, "We want to withdraw at the earliest possible opportunity but we want to do
it in a responsible manner."
For its part, the transitional government of Somalia was expected to concentrate on diplomacy in
the first part of 2007. At issue was the matter of negotiations with the ousted Islamists and
warlords. Such negotiations were aimed at bringing these disparate and rival factions into
government, for the purpose of stabilizing the country and in the interests of long-term peace.
Meanwhile, the African Union was set to discuss a plan by which it would deploy a peacekeeping
force to Somalia, which could eventually be replaced with United Nations peacekeepers at some
point in the future. Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf had earlier called for a "speedy deployment"
of peacekeepers to his country. While the United States offered to provide $10 million in funds
toward the creation of peacekeeping force that would operate under the aegis of the African Union,
few countries initially pledged to send troops to Somalia. The European Union, however, joined
the fray in the second week of January 2007, saying that it might send its own peacekeeping force
to Somalia.
On the table for discussion in 2008 was the matter of peacekeeping troops in Somalia. Ethiopian
Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin said that his country had made the "irrevocable" decision to soon
pull back its approximately 3,000 troops from Somalia.
Accordingly, there was an imminent need for some sort of stabilizing force in Somalia, given its
status as a quasi-failed state with a paralyzed government, and a dismal security situation on the
ground, with Islamic militants on the offensive. To that end, the African Union (AU) decided to
convene a crisis meeting among its Peace and Security Council to discuss a future peacekeeping
force in Somalia. African Union Commission leader, Jean Ping, noted that Nigeria, Burundi and
Uganda had indicated some willingness to contribute limited troops to the Somali cause.
Finally, as of January 2009, Ethiopia's Information Ministry said that about 3,000 of its troops
completed their withdrawal from Somalia two years after crossing the border to help the embattled
Somali government fight against Islamist insurgents. While Ethiopian troops appeared to have left
Mogadishu, surrounding areas, and the southern part of the country, locals in the town of Baidoa -the seat of the transitional government -- said that Ethiopian troops remained there.
On July 11, 2010, scores of people died in double explosions in the Ugandan capital of Kampala.
Local Ugandans as well as foreigners were among the victims. Ugandan police said the bombs
exploded at a rugby club and at a restaurant as football fans watched the final match of the World
Cup. In an interview with Agence France Press, Inspector General of Police Kal Kayihura said,
"These bombs were definitely targeting World Cup crowds."
While there was no conclusive information about those behind the attacks, Police Chief Kaihura
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expressed the view that Somalia's extremist Islamic militia — al-Shabab, which has been linked
with al-Qaida -- may have been to blame. Indeed, the feared Somali militants certainly made
threats against Kampala, perhaps because of the fact that Ugandan troops were deployed in
Mogadishu. Only days earlier, al-Shabab commander, Sheik Muktar Robow, demanded that
militants attack venues in Uganda and Burundi since both countries have contributed troops to the
African Union force in Mogadishu. Meanwhile, another al-Shabab commander, Sheik Yusuf Sheik
Issa, refused to confirm or deny his group's role in the Kampala twin bombings but expressed
happiness that they occurred at all. During an interview with the Associated Press, he said,
"Uganda is one of our enemies. Whatever makes them cry, makes us happy. May Allah's anger be
upon those who are against us."
With all available indications suggesting that Somali-based al-Shabab was responsible for the
attacks, the group itself removed doubt by claiming responsibility for what appeared to be its first
terror attack outside Somalia's borders. For its part, the Obama administration in the United States
pledged help to track down those responsible. At the same time, the United States Department of
States made it clear that it was focused on al-Shabab as a threatening entity with global jihadist
aspirations. As well, it pointed to Executive Order 13536, signed by United States President Barack
Obama, which was intended to block the finances of militant extremist Islamists in Somalia deemed
to be a threat to the peace process in that country.
On Oct. 23, 2011, a grenade attack on a nightclub in Kenya's capital city of Nairobi left more than
a dozen people wounded. The assailant was able to escape and attention switched to the motive
for the seemingly random attack. A day later, there was another blast -- this time at a bus terminal
in downtown Nairobi. At least one person died as a result of this blast. Suspicion quickly rested
on the Somali Islamist terrorist group, al-Shabab, given the timing of recent events. Only a week
prior, Kenya deployed troops to Kenya to investigate al-Shabab, which Kenyan authorities blame
for a spate of kidnappings in recent times. Al-Shabab warned of reprisal attacks if Kenyan troops
did not exit Somalia. Thus, there was speculation that the extremist Islamist terror enclave, which
has ties to al-Qaida, may have been making good on that threat. That speculation was bolstered by
a warning from the United States embassy in Nairobi, which warned of an "imminent threat" of
attacks in Kenya.
See Special Entries below for latest developments as regards the efforts against al-Shabab.
Africa Union
At its July 2-11, 2001, meeting in Lusaka, Zambia, the Organization of African Unity officially
approved the transformation of the Organization of African Unity into the new African Union.
Former foreign minister of Cote d'Ivoire, Amara Essy, was elected the first Secretary-General of
the Africa Union. United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, reacted with the statement that
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"This historic effort will require leadership, courage and willingness to depart from the ways of the
past, if it is to do for Africa what the European Union has done for Europe." The goal of the
African Union is to be a continental as obody that will pave the way to a better life for all Africans.
Where the OAU was criticized for its lack of action on economic and social fronts, the African
Union is charged with development as its primary task. Following a model based on the European
Union, the African Union is intended to bridge the economic gaps between African countries and
thrust the continent onto the world economic stage as a single entity. The African Union Bill was
based on a convergence of South African president Thabo Mbeki's African development plan, and
the Plan Omega proposed by Senegalese president Abdoulaye Wade. It therefore adds to its
economic mandate the political mandate that all of Africa should seek democratic consolidation.
There are significant criticisms to the new African Union, though. Some fear that too much faith is
being placed in a document that makes more sense in theory than in practice. The strongest
criticism, however, is that the African Union's largest force has been Libyan President Muammar
al-Qadhafi. The U.S. has made its objections to the Union clear no doubt due to a lack of trust in
Qadhafi's motives. Many African leaders backed the Union although they also demonstrated a lack
of trust in Qadhafi's motives. At the opening of the meeting of the OAU leaders noted that Qadhafi
failed to mention Africa's founding fathers despite the fact it was Ghana's Kwame Nkrumah who
was the founder of pan-Africanism some forty years ago. Indeed, Qadhafi has backed groups that
are markedly anti-pan-Africanist in his own country. Other comments challenged the controversial
role Libyan nationals often play in sub-Saharan African countries. Yet the most controversial
position of Qadhafi no doubt was his statement that "We cannot be neutral here. We are here for
the Africans, not the Europeans. We are here for the blacks, not for the whites." With Louis
Farrakhan, leader of the U.S.-based Nation of Islam movement, standing behind him, this
statement was taken as an affront to increased western relations as opposed to the Union's goal of
increasing economic ties with wealthier countries.
Other Significant Relations
Somalia has a long history of cultural, religious and trade ties with the Arabian Peninsula. Although
Somalis ethnically are not Arabs, they identify more with Arabs than with their fellow Africans.
Thus it was not surprising when Somalia joined League of Arab States (Arab League) in 1974,
becoming the first non-Arab member of that organization. Initially, Somalia tended to support those
Arab countries such as Algeria, Iraq and Libya that opposed United States policies in the Middle
East. After its defeat in the Ogaden War, the Siad Barre regime aligned its policies more closely
with those of Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Subsequently, both of these countries began to provide
military aid to Somalia. Other Arab states, in particular Libya, angered Siad Barre by supporting
Ethiopia. In 1981 Somalia broke diplomatic relations with Libya, claiming that Libyan leader
Muammar al Qadhafi was supporting the SSDF and the nascent SNM. Relations were not restored
until 1985.
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Throughout the 1980s, Somalia became increasingly dependent upon economic aid from the
conservative, wealthy oil-exporting states of Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab
Emirates. This dependence was a crucial factor in the Siad Barre regime's decision to side with the
United States-led coalition of Arab states that opposed Iraq following that country's invasion of
Kuwait in 1990. Support for the coalition brought economic dividends with Qatar canceling further
repayment of all principal and interest on outstanding loans, and Saudi Arabia offered a US$70
million grant and promised to sell it oil at below prevailing international market prices.
Prior to the Ogaden War, Somalia had been allied with the Soviet Union, and its relations with the
United States (U.S.)were strained largely because the Soviet Union sided with Ethiopia in the
Ogaden War. A United States-Somali rapprochement began in 1977 and culminated in a military
access agreement in 1980 that permitted the United States to use naval ports and airfields at
Berbera, Kisimayu and Mogadishu, in exchange for military and economic aid. The United States
subsequently refurbished facilities originally developed by the Soviet Union at the Gulf of Aden
port of Berbera. The United States Rapid Deployment Force used Berbera as a base for its
Operation Bright Star exercises in 1981, and American military advisers were permanently
stationed there one year later. Somali military units participated in Operation Bright Star joint
maneuvers in 1985. The base at Berbera was used in the fall of 1990 during the deployment of
personnel and supplies to Saudi Arabia in preparation for the Persian Gulf War. Many argue that
continued U.S. aid throughout the 1980s in fact lent strength to Said Barre's regime in the face of
extreme opposition, affording him the armaments necessary to control rebels by force. When the
U.S. stopped giving aid with the fall of the Berlin Wall, this contributed to the eventual collapse of
the Barre government and the subsequent civil war. To date, U.S has no embassy in Somalia.
Since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the U.S., there has been increasing suspicion among
U.S. policymakers that because of its lawlessness, Somalia is a likely destination for terrorists and
therefore should be targeted in the next phase of Washington's campaign against terrorism. In the
meantime, the U.S. forced Al Barakat, the country's leading finance company, to suspend
operations -- accusing it of raising, managing, investing and distributing funds for Al-Qaida. The
closure of Al Barakat in November 2001 was predicted to spell dire humanitarian consequences, as
it had become the cornerstone of Somali economy.
In April 2002, a new Somali telecoms company bought out Al Barakat, after the latter was, indeed,
forced out of business following US government allegations it had links with the al-Qaida network.
The new company, Hormud Telecom Somalia, spent US$2 million buying the equipment and
premises of Al Barakat. The company said it had no links with Al Barakat, which had more than
40,000 subscribers.
In January 2007, the U.S. carried out air strikes against Islamic extremists in the southern part of
Somalia. It was the first military operation by the U.S. in Somalia since the 1990s when 18
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American troops were killed in the Somali capital of Mogadishu.
The U.S. tracked Islamists, believed to have links with the terrorist enclave, al-Qaida, via aerial
reconnaissance. Once detected, strikes were launched from a U.S. gunship located at a military
base in Djibouti. U.S. sources said that the Islamists in Somalia provided safe haven for the alQaida operatives responsible for the embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998, which left
more than 250 people dead. This very cadre of Islamist operatives was also believed to be
responsible for the attacks on Israeli interests in 2002, which left 15 people dead. The Islamists,
however, denied these claims.
On the ground in Somalia, reports suggested that certain areas, such Hayo, Afmadow, and the
island of Badnado, were particularly hit by the air strikes. Thousands of civilians found themselves
at the center of the violence with air strikes raining down from above, Ethiopian tanks on the
ground, and Kenyan soldiers guarding the border. In this regard, the transitional government of
Somalia acknowledged that there were over 25 deaths as a result of the strikes.
Meanwhile, the U.S. military noted that an aircraft carrier had been deployed to the waters off the
Somali coast to join three other warships, which were carrying out anti-terrorism operations.
In April 2009, Somali pirates hijacked the Maersk Alabama in the Indian Ocean. The vessel was
destined to dock at Mombassa in Kenya and was carrying food aid destined for Somalia, Rwanda
and Uganda.
The Somali pirates, armed with guns, moved into proximity of the Maersk Alabama via a small
boat. They used ropes and hooks to climb aboard the vessel and then began demonstrating their
gunfire. Captain Richard Phillips ordered his crew to lock themselves in a secure cabin and gave
himself over to captors. While the crew was able to regain control of the vessel and eventually
reach its destination, Captain Phillips was taken hostage and placed on a small lifeboat under the
control of the pirates. He made one unsuccessful attempt to escape by diving into the water but
was pulled back aboard by his captors.
United States warships and a helicopter quickly moved from other locations in the region to the site
of the incident, but there was no immediate attempt to rescue Captain Phillips. Negotiators from
the Federal Bureau of Investigation were then deployed in an effort to secure the captain’s release.
Those hostage negotiations with the Somali pirates, however, soon devolved with no agreement
being forged. Some reports suggested that the sticking point in the negotiations was the United
States’ insistence that the the pirates be arrested and brought to justice.
Meanwhile, the White House was tight-lipped about the situation until the dramatic rescue was
complete. To that end, President Obama twice gave orders to use force to secure Captain Phillips’
release.
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According to reports, United States snipers were perched on the navy warship. From their vantage
point, they saw a pirate direct a weapon toward Captain Phillips, thus prompting the need for
immediate action. The snipers opened fire, killing three of the pirates. The fourth pirate
surrendered to the navy forces. With the pirates no longer a threat, navy personnel boarded the
lifeboat and discovered Captain Phillips unharmed but bound by ropes.
At a Pentagon briefing in Bahrain, Vice Admiral William Gortney, the head of the United States
Naval Central Command explained the need to use force in the rescue saying, “The on-scene
[navy] commander determined that the captain was in imminent danger.” He continued, “He had a
weapon aimed at him - that would be my interpretation of imminent danger.”
United States authorities acknowledge that the dramatic rescue could well motivate the targeting of
Western vessels in region. To date, such hijackings have been relatively bloodless and aimed at
procuring hefty ransoms. But this strong response by the United States, coming on the heels of a
similarly dramatic rescue by French military of four French citizens just days before, could well
raise the proverbial stakes.
Speaking to this issue, Vice Admiral Gortney warned, “ This could escalate violence in this part of
the world, no question about it.” On the other side of the equation, various media reports indicated
that self-identified pirates on the Somali coastal town of Eyl were now identifying the United States
navy as their prime enemy target.
Nevertheless, President Obama expressed satisfaction that Captain Phillips had been rescued and
hailed the ship’s captain for his courage, noting that it was "model for all Americans." President
Obama also noted that he intended to directly confront the growing threat of piracy in the unsafe
waters off the eastern coast of Africa.
United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton held talks with Somali President Sheikh Sharif
Sheikh Ahmed in Kenya's capital, Nairobi, during an African tour in August 2009. The United
States' chief diplomat said that her country was interested in a stable Somalia. She also blamed
Eritrea for backing Islamist rebels, known as al-Shabab, which has the expressed objective of
overthrowing the government of Somalia. To these ends, Secretary of State Clinton said: "
Certainly if al-Shabab were to obtain a haven in Somalia which could then attract al-Qaida and
other terrorist actions, it would be a threat to the United States." She continued, "It is long past
time for Eritrea to cease and desist its support of al-Shabab and to start being a productive rather
than a destabilizing neighbor. Accordingly, Secretary of State Clinton warned that the United
States would take action against Eritrea if it did not cease its support for the extremist Islamist
militants in Somalia. She said: "We are making it very clear that their actions are unacceptable. We
intend to take action if they do not cease."
Of course, such action would not include the deployment of United States forces to Somalia to
fight the militant insurgents there. However, Agence France Presse reported that the United States
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would double its supply of arms and ammunition to Somalia. In this way, the United States was
effectively admitting that it has supplied pro-government forces in Somalia with weaponry in recent
times.
On the other side of the equation, Eritrea has denied supporting Somalia's al-Shabab militants, and
characterized the United States' accusations as a "fabrication."
Nevertheless, there was evidence that several Somali militant Islamist groups carried out their
operations from inside Eritrean territory after they were driven by joint government and Ethiopian
troops from the Somali capital of Mogadishu in 2006. The history of animosity between Ethiopia
and Eritrea indicates that the two countries may have been carrying out a proxy war on Somali
territory. While Ethiopia has been reluctant to re-enter the fray as of 2009, Clinton's accusations
suggest that the United States believes Eritrea to be playing a continuing role in the chaos that has
bedeviled Somalia.
In July 2010, Somalia-based al-Shabab carried out terrorist attacks in the Ugandan capital of
Kampala, as discussed above. The Obama administration in the United States pledged help to
track down those responsible. As noted above, all available indications at the time of writing
suggested that there was Somali-based al-Shabab, with ties to al-Qaida, was responsible for the
attacks. In fact, the group itself claimed responsibility for what appeared to be its first terror attack
outside Somalia's borders. For its part, the United States Department of States made it clear that it
was focused on al-Shabab as a threating entity with global jihadist aspirations. As well, it pointed
to Executive Order 13536, signed by United States President Barack Obama, which was intended
to block the finances of militant extremist Islamists in Somalia deemed to be a threat to the peace
process in that country.
Also as discussed above, in October 2011, a grenade attack on a nightclub in Kenya's capital city
of Nairobi left more than a dozen people wounded. A day later, there was another blast -- this time
at a bus terminal in downtown Nairobi. At least one person died as a result of this blast. Suspicion
quickly rested on the Somali Islamist terrorist group, al-Shabab, given the timing of recent events.
Only a week prior, Kenya deployed troops to Kenya to investigate al-Shabab, which Kenyan
authorities blame for a spate of kidnappings in recent times. Al-Shabab warned of reprisal attacks
if Kenyan troops did not exit Somalia. Thus, there was speculation that the extremist Islamist
terror enclave, which has ties to al-Qaida, may have been making good on that threat. That
speculation was bolstered by a warning from the United States embassy in Nairobi, which warned
of an "imminent threat" of attacks in Kenya. As discussed above, as of 2012, Kenyan and
Ethiopian troops have reportedly entered Somalia to help with the fight against the threat posed by
Al-Shabab.
Special Entry: Foreign Forces Target Al-Shabab
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In the autumn of 2011, Kenyan military forces along with allied Somali troops launched an
offensive against al-Shabab, the Islamist extremist enclave based in Somalia, which has
increasingly operated as a proxy terror group for al-Qaida. The action was in reaction to the
violence and terrorism carried out by militant terror group not only in Somalia but in other
countries. Indeed, al-Shabab was suspected of being behind a number of violent attacks, killings,
and kidnappings in Kenya in recent times, seemingly in retaliation for Kenya's involvement in the
African Union mission in Somalia aimed at stabilizing the failed state.
The assault went on for weeks, included air strikes by Kenyan forces, and yielded a number of
deaths. The air assault was aimed at eliminating al-Shabab strongholds and a number of apparent
Islamist terrorist training camps, as well as stopping the transfer of arms to al-Shabab militants.
Kenya argued that its action was necessary and that al-Shabab's actions made al-Shabab-controlled
areas "legitimate targets.” Hundreds of civilians in the conflict zone were fleeing the area to escape
the aerial bombardment.
At the start of November 2011, Kenya and Somalia found concurrence on a joint war strategy
targeting al-Shabab. The leaders of the two countries -- Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga and
Somali Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali agreed on a war strategy to coordinate their assaults
on al-Shabab strongholds of Somalia.
Earlier, there had been some rumblings from the Somalian leadership that Kenyan should not have
sent troops into its terroritory to fight alp-Shabab, prompting all parties to seek clarification. Now
making it clear that the plan was a joint effort and that the Somalian government endorsed Kenya's
involvement, Abdiweli Mohamed Ali said in an interview with the media: “There is no discord
within the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) leadership. The President of Somalia is aware
that I am here to discuss the security operation with the Kenyan government." He continued, “It is
necessary for us to have a common strategy against the al-Shabab." For his part, Raila Odinga
explained that Kenya was compelled to take action against al-Sahab, saying, “This was a reaction
to a situation that was becoming intolerable." He added, “Nobody knows how long and where it
was going to end. We want to see a stable civilian authority in Somalia, we want to help Somalia to
stabilize.”
Raila Odinga and Abdiweli Mohamed Ali urged the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM)
to deploy troops in towns that had been taken over by Kenyan troops. Somali and Kenyan
officials had apparently agreed that Somali forces would take charge in the operation. The two
leaders also advocated the development of local administrations and infrastructure in newly
liberated towns -- presumably to offer fresh opportunities to beleaguered people living in those
undeveloped areas, which traditionally are ripe for terrorist recruitment. Furthermore, they called
on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to immediately investigate the al-Shabaab for war
crimes. In fact, they said that the TFG of Somalia would immediately seek assistance from the
ICC in this effort, with the objective being international indictments for al-Shabab fighters alleged
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to be war criminals.
On Nov. 19, 2011, reports emerged about convoys of vehicles carrying Ethiopians troops across
the border into Somalia. Eyewitness accounts confirmed the presence of Ethiopian soldiers in
various Somali towns. It should be noted that Ethiopian soldiers had operated in Somalia, with the
purpose of backing the fragile government of Somalia against the militant Islamist group, alShabab, for about three years, before finally withdrawing in 2009.
For their part, Ethiopian authorities denied that their forces were involved in any incursion into
Somalia in November 2011, maintaining that their soldiers have not been in Somalia in significant
numbers since 2009. Of course, the characterization "in significant numbers" lent some confusion
to the situation. That confusion was not helped by the statement made by a Somali member of
parliament that the presence of Ethiopian troops was necessary in the fight against al-Shabab.
In the background of the news that Ethiopian troops might be in Somalia was the fact that Kenyan
troops were now in Somalia to fight against the threat posed by al-Shabab. Indeed, since October
2011, Kenyan military forces along with allied Somali troops have been carrying out an offensive
against al-Shabab, the Islamist extremist enclave based in Somalia, which has increasingly
operated as a proxy terror group for al-Qaida. The action was in reaction to the violence and
terrorism carried out by militant terror group not only in Somalia but in other countries. Indeed, alShabab was suspected of being behind a number of violent attacks, killings, and kidnappings in
Kenya in recent times, seemingly in retaliation for Kenya's involvement in the African Union
mission in Somalia aimed at stabilizing the failed state. Now though, Kenya had joined forced with
Somalia to go after al-Shabab. Indeed, by the start of December 2011, Kenya was saying that as
many as 40 al-Shabab militants had been killed in a battle in the southern town of Hawo.
At the close of 2011, it was reported that Ethiopian forces had captured the central Somali town of
Beledweyne from al-Shabab Islamist militants. Eyewitnesses on the ground observed that both
armored vehicles and heavy artillery were used in the assault on al-Shabab militants in
Beledweyne. A lengthy battle between about 3,000 Ethiopian troops and al-Shabab fighters
followed, ultimately ending in the withdrawal of the Islamic militants from the strategically-located
town along the road to Somalia's capital of Mogadishu.
Somali Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali confirmed the news of Beledweyne's capture,
saying, "Early this morning, the Somali National Army recaptured some al-Shabab-occupied
territories engaging the enemies in Hiiraan and other regions of the country." He said that the
operation was aimed at liberating the country from "the tyranny of al-Shabab." Meanwhile,
Ethiopian authorities confirmed the involvement of its country's troops, saying that the assault was
carried out at the behest of the Somali government. This confirmation reinforced reports a month
earlier that convoys of vehicles carrying Ethiopians troops had moved across the border into
Somalia.
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It should be noted that Ethiopian soldiers had operated in Somalia, with the purpose of backing the
fragile government of Somalia against the militant Islamist group, al-Shabab, for about three years,
before finally withdrawing in 2009. Now, at the start of 2012, it was apparent that there was the
resumption of some military engagement by Ethiopian troops in Somalia once again, with an eye
on repelling al-Shabab.
As the year 2012 began, Ethiopian and Kenyan troops continued to operate in Somalia. The
forces from Ethiopia and Kenya were carrying out an offensive against al-Shabab, the Islamist
extremist enclave based in Somalia, which has increasingly operated as a proxy terror group for alQaida.
In the first week of January 2012, the Kenyan army announced that it had eliminated 60 Somali alShabab militia fighters in air strikes in Garbaharey in southern Somalia's Gedo region. Kenyan
authorities also said that their forces were and determined to "break their [al-Shabab's] spine
completely." Despite a number of defections from al-Shabab fighters, the power base of the
Islamist extremist movement said that it would repel the Kenyan troops.
As January 2012 entered its final week, African Union (AU) forces launched a major offensive
against al-Shabab Islamists in Somalia. The operation targeted the Somali capital of Mogadishu
and aimed to seize territory from al-Shabab. To that end, about one thousand AU troops were able
to capture three al-Shabab bases and were advancing on Mogadishu. Pro-government forces were
reported to have taken control of both Mogadishu University and Barakat cemetery, as AU forces
advanced northward following a period of heavy fighting. Nevertheless, on Jan. 19, 2012, a
suicide attack at a refugee camp in the capital left several people dead, including a security guard
and a local aid worker.
On Feb. 18, 2012, Kenya's military said that it made further advances in an effort to quell alShabab. Specifically, Kenya's Defense Forces said that it liberated a total of 95,000 square
kilometers of Southern Somalia from the al-Shabab. Accordingly, its operation could well be
described as something of a success.
Since the autumn of 2011, as discussed here, Kenyan military forces, along with allied Somali
troops, have been carrying out an offensive against al-Shabab, the Islamist extremist enclave based
in Somalia. The action was aimed at eliminating al-Shabab strongholds, apparent Islamist terrorist
training camps, as well as stopping the transfer of arms to al-Shabab militants; the action was
motivated by the regime of violence being carried out by the militant terror group not only in
Somalia but in other countries. .
It should be noted that although al-Shabab made a strategic exit from the Somali capital of
Mogadishu months prior, it still held sway over large swaths of Somalia and had shifted its focus to
carrying out terrorist attacks, rather than more conventional warfare, in the Mogadishu area.
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That being said, al-Shabab has been under intensifying pressure from a number of fronts. In
addition to the troops from Kenya, there have also been African Union troops operating in
Somalia to offer support to government forces, as well as troops from Ethiopia and most recently
Djibouti additionally working in Somalia towards the same goal of repelling al-Shabab. Of
course, the presence of foreign troops in Somalia could prove to be a controversial matter, even
contributing to further instability in a country that can only be classified as a failed state. Indeed,
al-Shabab declared that the presence of Kenyan troops in Somalia was to be regarded as an act of
war. Moreover, as of February 2012, as discussed below, al-Shabab went from operating as a
proxy terror group for al-Qaida, to officially joined the ranks of al-Shabab.
Internet.
Africa. See above for details as regards the efforts of foreign forces in Somalia and the fight to
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quell al-Shabab.
Editor's Note:
controlled by various political and regional factions, as well as local warlords. Islamic militias have
also held sway and were driven from the capital in 2006 following an intervention by Ethiopian
troops into Somali territory on behalf of the weak transitional government.
Since that time, resurgent Islamists, known as al-Shabab, have been launching a violent insurgency
and now control significant swaths of the country's territory. A ceasefire pact between the
government and insurgent forces in June 2008 has had little positive effect since some factions did
not sign onto the deal. Indeed, in 2010, al-Shabab -- which is allied with the notorious terror
enclave al-Qaida -- was carrying out a violent offensive aimed at overthrowing the government,
and even carrying out terrorist acts outside national borders. Al-Shabab was responsible for two
deadly bombings in Uganda in July 2010, indicating an increasingly jihadist orientation, in which
number of violent attacks, killings, and kidnappings in Kenya in recent times, seemingly in
however, that exit did not augur an end to violence and terrorism as indicated by the October 2011
attack on the Mogadishu government compound. That being said, an offensive by Somali
Ethiopian troops, have been placing hitherto unknown pressure on al-Shabab. As of 2012, alShabab announced it was joining al-Qaida, effectively formalizing its identity as a standpoint
Islamist terror group in the strategic Horn of Africa. The group has continued its brutal assault in
Somalia, attacking a high level national delegation as recently as April 2012. Amidst this state on
insecurity, Somalia has, as of 2012, advanced a political transition plan.
been in need of humanitarian aid since the second half of 2008. As of 2012, the situation can be
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characterized as both a political and human crisis, manifested most expressly by a crippling famine
and drought crisis.
It should be noted that, as chaos reigns supreme in the heartland of Somalia, there are also two
"republics" in the north. The former British colony of Somaliland---consisting of five districts in the
northwest---declared independence in 1991, and the northeastern region---known as Puntland--declared autonomy in 1998. Neither is recognized as a sovereign independent state.
Special Entry: Swedish politician attacked in Somalia
On Aug. 21, 2013, a Swedish politician was attacked in Mogadishu -- the capital city of Somalia.
Gunmen fired at the vehicle transporting Ann-Margarethe Livh, wounding the Swedish politician,
and killing two others. The incident occurred as Livh -- the leader of Sweden's Left Party in
Stockholm -- and the two other victims, a Somali translator and a police officer -- were returning
to her hotel following her delivery of a lecture on democracy at a university in Mogadishu. The
shocking act of violence against a prominent foreign national was expected to add to the fears that
Somalia was slipping back into a failed state marked by lawlessness and chaos, and with
Mogadishu regaining its dubious distinction as a battleground between weak government forces and
Islamic extremist militants. Indeed, the alarming increase in violence resulted in the decision by
Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders) to close it operations in Somalia due to
"extreme attacks on its staff."
Al-Shabab terrorists from Somalia launch brutal attack at Kenyan shopping mall
Gunmen from the Somalia-based terror group, al-Shabab, launched an audacious attack on a
popular shopping mall in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi on Sept. 21, 2013. The attack began with
the al-Shaba extremist Islamist terrorists storming the upscale Westgate mall compound, hurling
grenades, and opening fire on customers and mall staff with automatic weapons.
Two days later on Sept. 23, 2013, the attack continued with around 70 people reported to have
been killed, more than 175 wounded, as many as 50 people unaccounted for. Also, scores of
people were believed to be held either as hostages or trapped in the mall and unable to escape.
Meanwhile, a standoff was ensuing between the terrorists and Kenyan security forces.
There were unconfirmed reports that the attackers included at least one woman. At the same time,
according to witness accounts, the attackers were clearly targeting non-Muslims. Survivor
accounts indicated that the terrorists asked Muslims to identify themselves and they were then
allowed to leave. According to a witness account recorded by a correspondent for the Economist,
an Indian man who claimed to be Muslim (presumably for reasons of survival) was shot to death
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when he could not provide the correct answer to a question regarding the Islamic Prophet
Muhammed's mother.
Also among the dead were Kenyan, Ghanaian, South African, French, Dutch, British, Canadian,
American, Peruvian, Australian, Indian, and Chinese victims. The Ghanaian victim was reported
to be the well-known poet, Kofi Awoonor, who was in Kenya to attend a literary festival. Of the
Canadian victims, one of the dead was reported to be a diplomat. The wife of an American
working for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) was also reported to
have been killed. Because the mall was the venue for a gathering of children on that day, children
were reported to have died in the attack which British Prime Minster David Cameron characterized
as "an act of appalling brutality."
In a televised address, President Uhuru Kenyatta said that security forces were "in the process of
neutralizing the attackers and securing the mall," however, it was apparent that despite the
president's claim, that goal was not going to be accomplished with ease. Indeed, the safety of the
hostages required that security experts use caution and delicacy to end the siege. Still, the Kenyan
leader had a warning for the al-Shabab terrorists, saying, "We shall hunt down the perpetrators
wherever they run to. We shall get to them and we shall punish them for this heinous crime."
President Kenyatta certainly had a personal stake in the matter as he confirmed that his own
family members had been killed in the attack.
There were efforts afoot to deal with the ensuing siege at the shopping mall, with Kenyan special
forces being called in to support police in this effort. As well, Israeli deployed some of its antiterrorism experts to help Kenyan authorities while the international police organization, Interpol,
had offered to deploy an Incident Response Team consisting of specialized forensic officers, antiterror experts, to Kenya. Further forensic experts were being sent to assist the Kenyans from the
United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Canada to examine DNA, fingerprints, and
ballistic evidence.
Al-Shabab, which aligned itself with the notorious terror enclave, al-Qaida, wasted no time in
claiming responsibility for the deadly attack, explaining that its actions were in retaliation for the
Kenyan's military involvement in Somalia.
Since the autumn of 2011, Kenyan military forces, along with allied Somali troops, have been
carrying out an offensive against al-Shabab. The action was aimed at eliminating al-Shabab
strongholds, apparent Islamist terrorist training camps, as well as stopping the transfer of arms to
al-Shabab militants; the action was motivated by the regime of violence being carried out by the
militant terror group not only in Somalia but in other countries. Indeed, al-Shabab was suspected
of being behind a number of violent attacks, killings, and kidnappings in Kenya in recent times, in
response to Kenya's involvement in Somalia, under the aegis of the African Union mission. That
mission was itself aimed at stabilizing Somalia.
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Although al-Shabab made a strategic exit from the Somali capital of Mogadishu months prior, it still
held sway over large swaths of Somalia and had shifted its focus to carrying out terrorist attacks,
rather than more conventional warfare, in the Mogadishu area. The terrorist agenda of al-Shabab
was extroverted in 2012 when the extremist Islamist entity went from operating as a proxy terror
group for al-Qaida, to officially joining the ranks of the world's most notorious terror enclave.
Al-Shabab has been under intensifying pressure from a number of fronts. In addition to the troops
from Kenya, there have also been African Union troops operating in Somalia to offer support to
government forces, as well as troops from Ethiopia and most recently Djibouti additionally
working in Somalia towards the same goal of repelling al-Shabab. The presence of foreign troops
in Somalia could prove to be a controversial matter, even contributing to further instability in a
country that can only be classified as a failed state. Indeed, al-Shabab declared that the presence
of Kenyan troops in Somalia was to be regarded as an act of war -- with the September 2013
assault on the Nairobi shopping mall being the latest apparent battle in the war.
Note that as of Sept. 24, 2013 -- three days after the start of the tragic assault -- Kenyan
authorities were able to report that they were in control of all areas of the Westgate Mall in
Nairobi. But that claim was regarded with doubt as explosions and gunfire continued to be heard
emanating from the shopping complex, and as flames were seen coming from the mall. Kenyan
Interior Minister Joseph Ole Lenku said that Kenyan special forces were carrying out an operation
intended to end the siege, saying, "The terrorists could be running and hiding in some stores, but all
floors now are under our control." He continued, "There is no room for escape."
A day later on Sept. 25, 2013, President Kenyatta announced that the crisis was over and promised
again that the assailants would be brought to justice. To that end, about a dozen suspects were said
to be arrested on the grounds that they were somehow involved in the attack. Seven people were
arrested at the airport in Nairobi and being subject to interrogations. It should be noted that
Kenyan authorities confirmed that a woman was among the al-Shabab assailants; she was reported
to be a national of the United Kingdom. Also among the assailants were two United States
nationals, who were described to be of about 19 years old and of either Arab or Somali origin. The
International Criminal Court entered the fray saying that it would work with Kenya to ensure the
terrorists responsible for the bloodshed and violence would face justice.
In the waning days of September 2013, a number of suspects being held in connection with the
terror attack at the Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi. As well, there were reports that both
Kenyan and Western authorities were trying to apprehend a United Kingdom national -- Samantha
Lewthwaite -- known as the "white widow" due to the fact that she was the wife of one of the
2005 London suicide bombers. It was not known if Lewthwaite was being sought in connection
with the Kenyan mall attack or in connection to a previous al-Shabab plot dating back to 2011.
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Around the same time, there were reports that Kenyan government ministers received warnings of
an impending terror attack ahead of the Westgate shopping mall massacre. Kenyan newspapers
reported that the National Intelligence Service was warned of the presence of suspected al-Shabab
militants in Nairobi more than a year prior, and that those militants were planning to carry out acts
of terrorism. In fact, Kenya's Daily Nation reported that ministers were given security briefings
"informing them of increasing threat of terrorism and of plans to launch simultaneous attacks in
Nairobi and Mombasa around September 13 and 20, 2013." The Daily Nation also noted that
Kenyan intelligence had actually pinpointed both the Westgate shopping mall and the Holy Family
Basilica as likely targets.
With this news emerging and accusations arising about the government's lack of attentiveness to
such precise threats, the Kenyan government was clearly under fire. On Sept. 29, 2013, Interior
Minister Joseph Ole Lenku was asked to address these concerns during a news conference;
however, he declined to comment, saying instead that intelligence issues were confidential.
As September 2013 drew to a close, the terror group, al-Shabab warned that the Kenyan mall
attack was "act one" or "just the premier" in its agenda to force Kenya to withdraw its troops from
Somalia. But there was no sign that Kenya intended to bend to the will of terrorists. Indeed, there
were reports of Kenyan forces gathering close to the Somali border, in anticipation of a
peacekeeping rotation into Somalia. As well, President Uhuru Kenyatta has made it clear that
Kenya will not withdraw from Somalia, where its military forces have been involved in a relatively
successful African Union effort to force al-Shabab into a state of retreat from Mogadishu
(Somalia's capital). This attack in Kenya likely only served to strengthen the commitment of
regional and international bodies to dismantling and eradicating the terrorist threat posed by alShabab.
Special Note on U.S. special forces operation in Somalia
In October 2013, United States special forces raided terrorist enclaves in Somalia. This operation
targeted the Somali town of Barawe. There, commandos were targeting a "high value" terrorist
from al-Shabab -- the Somali terror group that is allied with al-Qaida. Because al-Shabab fighters
there was some suggestion that one al-Shabab terrorist was killed. It was not known if the person
killed was Mukhtar Abu Zubeyr, also known as Ahmed Godane -- the leader of al-Shabab. It was
later revealed that the target of that action was Abdukadir Mohamed Abdukadir, a Kenyan alShabab commander also known by the name "Ikrima." It should be noted that the al-Shabab,
which is aligned with the terror enclave al-Qaida, claimed responsibility for the horrific terrorist
attack on the Westgate shopping mall in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi, discussed above.
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Somali terror group al-Shabab suspected of attacks in Kenya
In the early summer of 2014, a spate of attacks in Kenya were believed to be the work of the
Somalia-based terror group, al-Shabab. The latest attack in July 2014 hit the resort coastal of
region of Lamu and left dozens of people dead.
Going back to May 2014, two explosions rocked the Kenyan capital of Nairobi killing several
people and injuring scores more. The two blasts targeted passengers buses on a busy highway and
appeared to have been caused by improvised explosive devices (IEDs) commonly used by Jihadist
terrorists. Around the same period of in May 2014, the area of Kasarani to the northeast of
Nairobi was also struck by violence, as two other blasts targeted a hotel and an underpass. Scores
of casualties were reported in those cases, with Kenyan authorities noting that 20 of the injuries
were deemed critical. Blame rested on the Somalia-based Islamist extremist entity, al-Shabab.
In mid-June 2014, Kenya's coastal area of Mpeketoni was struck by deadly violence -- quite likely
at the hands of the Somalia-based extremist Islamist group, al-Shabab. The horrific wave of
violence that rocked the coast of Kenya close to the resort island of Lamu ensued over the course
of two days and left as many as 60 dead. A police station, a number of hotels, and neighboring
villages, were among the targets struck by ongoing raids by gunmen. Many of the victims were
watching World Cup matches at the time of the attacks. It should be noted that extremist Islamists
have deemed the act of watching football matches to be "un-Islamic." As a result, Kenyan
authorities urged citizens to remain at home to watch the 2014 World Cup, rather than gathering in
public places.
Meanwhile, al-Shabab wasted no time in claiming responsibility as it declared the attacks were
carried out in retaliation for Kenyan troops in Somalia as part of a force to repel Islamist
extremists.
President Uhuru Kenyatta took the perplexing path of denying al-Shabab's claim of responsibility
and instead claiming that local political groups were responsible for the violence. He took note of
the fat that most of the victims were ethnic Kikuyus -- of the same ethnicity as him. However, the
truth of the matter was that with most of the victims being non-Muslims, it was conceivable that alShabab was behind the bloodshed.
Regardless of the competing claims as to the actual assailants, several people were arrested a few
days after the attacks. Via Twitter, the local police chief, David Kimaiyo, said: "We have arrested
several suspects in connection to Mpeketoni incident including the owner and driver of one the
vehicles used by attackers." He also tweeted: "Also in police custody is a suspect who was
operating social media accounts purportedly used by al-Shabab to claim responsibility."
The Kenyan coast was again the site of bloodshed in the last week of June 2014 when a gang
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armed with machetes raided the village of Witu, located in close proximity to Mpeketoni. The
attack resulted in the hacking deaths of five people. As was the case in the previous coastal attack,
the identity of the assailants remained hazy. Blame, as usual, rested on al-Shabab; however, the
president continued to insist that recent attacks were the work of political rivals.
It should be noted that al-Shabab, which is aligned with the terror enclave al-Qaida, claimed
responsibility for the horrific terrorist attack on the Westgate shopping mall in the Kenyan capital
of Nairobi in 2013 that left scores of victims dead. At the time, the terror group warned that the
Kenyan mall attack was "act one" or "just the premier" in its agenda to force Kenya to withdraw its
troops from Somalia. Clearly, these bombings in 2014 were signs that al-Shabab was making good
on its nefarious threat.
President Uhuru Kenyatta has made it clear that Kenya will not withdraw from Somalia, where its
military forces have been involved in a relatively successful African Union effort to force alShabab into a state of retreat from Mogadishu (Somalia's capital). These various attacks in Kenya
likely only served to strengthen the commitment of regional and international bodies to dismantling
and eradicating the terrorist threat posed by al-Shabab. Indeed, at the close of June 2014, Kenya
intensified its air strikes on the Islamist extremist groups bases in Somalia.
U.S. strike killes leader of al-Shabab terrorist group; African peacekeeping forces make gains
Joint African peacekeeping and Somali forces were making gains against Islamist terrorist group, alShabaab, in the southern town of Bulamareer, located close to the Islamist terrorists' stronghold of
Barawe. The joint operation also saw success by recapturing territory in the surrounding areas of
the Lower Shabelle region.
The effort in late August 2014 in Bulamareer -- about 50 miles to the north of Barawe -- and the
surrounding region was part of an overall operation that started earlier in 2014 and had been aimed
at repelling al-Shabab from towns where they have held sway. Of particular concern had been the
southern part of the country, which was largely been under al-Shabab's control.
In recent times, al-Shabab has transformed from being a Somalia-focused Islamic insurgency into
an extremist Jihadist entity that carries out brutal terrorist attacks both at home and in neighboring
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countries. While international forces operating in Somalia have placed pressure on al-Shabab, it
has aligned itself with al-Qaida, taken advantage of Somalia's weak government, and relentlessly
worked to destabilize Somalia the Horn of Africa.
At the start of September 2014, the United States carried out air strikes in Somalia targeting the
leader of al-Shabab, Ahmed Abdi Godane. The operation used both manned and unmanned
aircraft. Days after the United States Pentagon confirmed the operation, Pentagon Press Secretary
Rear Admiral John Kirby confirmed that the primary target -- Godane -- had been successfully
eliminated in the strikes on an encampment and convoy of vehicles to the south of Mogadishu.
For several years, Godane -- also known as Mukhtar Abu Zubair -- has stood near the top of the
United States Department of State's most wanted list. He was radicalized in Sudan and Pakistan,
and reportedly fought in Afghanistan, before becoming the al-Shabab's leader in 2008. A year
later, he officially announced al-Shabab's alliance and allegiance to the notorious terror enclave, alQaida. In 2012, the United States placed a $7 million bounty on his head. In recent years, alShabab's activities have expanded beyond Somalia's borders to neighboring countries with an
increasingly Islamist Jihadist agenda. Of note was the horrific terror attack at a Kenyan shopping
mall in 2013.
While the United States has not been known to be actively involved in operations in Somalia, it has
nonetheless supported African Union forces tasked with repelling al-Shabab from Mogadishu. As
well, the United States has gone after high value al-Shabab targets in Somalia before. To that end,
in October 2013, United States special forces raided terrorist enclaves in Somalia, with the
objective of going after a "high value" terrorist from al-Shabab. Because al-Shabab fighters
there was some suggestion that one al-Shabab terrorist was killed. It was later revealed that the
target of that action was Abdukadir Mohamed Abdukadir, a Kenyan al-Shabab commander also
known by the name "Ikrima."
Now, in September 2014, the United States could claim victory for eliminating one of the world's
most important terrorists, and specifically, the leader of al-Shabab -- Godane. In this way, the
successful strike operation struck a heavy blow to the al-Shabab terror group, which did not have
an obvious successor to Godane.
In Somalia, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamed used the opportunity to urge al-Shabab to lay
down arms. He announced a 45-day amnesty for terrorists aligned with the group to renounce
their association in al-Shabab. It was to be seen if al-Shabab would respond affirmatively to the
offer, or simply regroup and re-emerge once again.
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Muslims in massacre
In late 2014, the Somali-based terror group al-Shabab carried out a series of attacks just outside
the town of Mandera, close to Kenya's border with Somalia and Ethiopia. In these brutal
massacred, al-Shabab clearly targeted Kenyan non-Muslims for execution.
In the first attack that occurred at the end of November 2014, the al-Shabab terrorists targeted a
bus bound for Nairobi. They ambushed the vehicle, ordered passengers off the bus at gunpoint and
killed all non-Muslims at close range. Three passengers survived by reciting verses of the Koran
and presumably proving their Islamic "credentials."
In a statement, Sheikh Ali Mohamud Rage, an al-Shabab spokesperson, said, "The Mujahideen
successfully carried out an operation near Mandera early this morning, which resulted in 28
crusaders perishing, as revenge for the crimes committed by the Kenyan crusaders against our
Muslim brethren in Mombasa." At issue were a series of raids by police on mosques in the city of
Mombassa, which were identified as terrorist recruiting venues and safe havens for storing
weapons.
For their part, Kenyan authorities made clear that their armed forces would be carrying out an
offensive against camps and strongholds believed to be frequented by al-Shabab. Kenyan Deputy
President William Ruto promised retribution and justice, saying in a televised address: "I want to
assure you all that all those responsible for the loss of lives of Kenyans -- we will pursue you
everywhere, be it in Kenya, be it in Somalia."
But only days later on Dec. 2, 2014, al-Shabab carried out its second brutal attack in only days -this time targeting non-Muslims at a quarry in Kormey -- close to the same town of Mandera
mentioned above. Following a similar pattern as before, the al-Shabab terrorists rounded up the
workers while they were sleeping in their tents, singled out 36 Christian quarry workers, lined them
up for mass execution, and then shot them to death. Four victims were said to have been
beheaded in what could only be understood as a massacre. Muslim quarry workers were allowed
to live.
Once again, al-Shabab made clear that it was responsible for these acts of barbarism, justifying the
group's brutality on the basis of Kenya's military engagement as part of a multilateral coalition
fighting al-Shabab in Somalia. Al-Shabab spokesperson Ali Mohamud Rage declared, "We are
uncompromising in our beliefs, relentless in our pursuit, ruthless against the disbelievers and we
will do whatever necessary to defend our Muslim brethren suffering from Kenya’s aggression."
It should be noted that al-Shabab began as an Islamist entity battling the weak government of
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outside of Somalia. Kenya is a favored target for al-Shabab due to that country's involvement in a
multilateral military effort to rout out al-Shabab from the Horn of Africa.
Indeed, al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the horrific terrorist attack on the Westgate shopping
mall in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi in 2013 that left scores of victims dead. At the time, the
terror group warned that the Kenyan mall attack was "act one" or "just the premier" in its agenda
to force Kenya to withdraw its troops from Somalia. Clearly, the relentless and ongoing attacks in
2014 were signs that al-Shabab was making good on its nefarious threat. As discussed here, the
close of the year 2014 was being marked in Kenya by continuing bloodshed and brutality at the
hands of al-Shabab, who seemed intent on punishing Kenya for its military effort against Islamic
terrorism in the Horn of Africa.
President Uhuru Kenyatta has throughout made clear that Kenya will not withdraw from Somalia,
where its military forces have been involved in a relatively successful African Union effort to force
al-Shabab into a state of retreat from Mogadishu (Somalia's capital). These various attacks in
Kenya likely only served to strengthen the commitment of regional and international bodies to
dismantling and eradicating the terrorist threat posed by al-Shabab. Indeed, since mid-2014,
Kenya has intensified its air strikes on the Islamist extremist group's bases in Somalia.
With the brutal massacres in Kenya in late 2014 at the hands of al-Shabab, Kenyan President
Uhuru Kenyatta moved to make sweeping changes as regards his national security team. Faced
with growing criticism over the government's failure to do more to protect Kenyans from attacks
from al-Shabab, President Kenyatta on Dec. 2, 2014, sacked the police chief, David Kimaiyo. He
also fired Interior Minister Joseph ole Lenku who managed to retain his post even after the 2013
al-Shabab attack on Nairobi's Westgate shopping mall discussed above. With these moves made,
President Kenyatta urged his opposition critics to shift their attention to national unity, saying, "Our
bickering only emboldens the enemy."
U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Johnson warns of threat to Western shopping centers by alShabab
On Feb. 22, 2015, United States Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson issued a warning to
Westerners regarding possible attacks on shopping centers by the Somalia-based terror group, alShabab. At issue was the emergence of a videotaped message from al-Shabab urging its supporters
to carry out attacks at shopping malls in the United States, Canada, and the United States. An alSahab terrorist with a British accent specifically mentioned three large shopping malls -- the Mall of
America in Minnesota, the West Edmonton Mall in Canada, and Oxford Street in London -- as
desirable targets of attack.
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Of significance was the fact that al-Shabab had already carried out a horrific and brutal massacre at
the Westgate shopping mall in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi in 2013, killing close to 70 people.
Given this record of bloodthirsty violence, the United States homeland security chief was taking
this new threat from al-Shabab seriously. In an interview with CNN, Secretary Johnson said,
"Anytime a terrorist organisation calls for an attack on a specific place, we've got to take that
seriously." He further noted that there was a "new phase" of terrorism looming in which attacks
would increasingly come from "independent actors in their homelands."
Somali-based Islamist terror group al-Shabab launches violent attack on Kenyan university
In late March 2015, the Islamist terror group, al-Shabab, carried out a suicide car bomb attack
outside a Mogadishu hotel. The attack took place at the Maka al Mukarama hotel in the Somali
capital of Mogadishu, which was popular with diplomats, dignitaries, and business people. After
the initial assault, al-Shabab then raided the hotel, killing more than a dozen people and wounding
at least 30 others. Included in the dead was the Somali ambassador to Switzerland, Yusuf
Baribari, as well as several other government officials. Some diplomats survided the raid by
jumping from hotel windows. The siege ended only after United States-trained Somali troops
stormed the hotel. Militants as well as soldiers were killed in the ensuing clashes. Al-Shabab
proudly claimed responsibility for the act of terrorism, with a spokesperson for the Islamist terror
group saying, "We don't consider it to be a hotel - it's a government base."
At the start of April 2015, al-Shabab, launched a violent terror attack at a university in
northeastern Kenya, relatively close to the border with Somalia. Terrorists from al-Shabab
stormed the Garissa College University, opening fire, and targeting non-Muslims. At least 145
people were killed while scores more were wounded. The terrorists identified Muslim students
and released them, preferring to target the Christian students instead.
It should be noted that the Somali-based terror group has made Kenya a favorite terror target,
justifying its brutality on the basis of Kenya's military engagement as part of a multilateral coalition
fighting al-Shabab in Somalia. Al-Shabab spokesperson Ali Mohamud Rage was on the record, as
he declared, "We are uncompromising in our beliefs, relentless in our pursuit, ruthless against the
disbelievers and we will do whatever necessary to defend our Muslim brethren suffering from
Kenya’s aggression."
It should also be noted that al-Shabab began as an Islamist entity battling the weak government of
outside of Somalia. Kenya has thus become a preferred target for al-Shabab due to that country's
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involvement in a multilateral military effort to rout out al-Shabab from the Horn of Africa.
Significantly, al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the horrific terrorist attack on the Westgate
shopping mall in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi in 2013 that left scores of victims dead. At the
time, the terror group warned that the Kenyan mall attack was "act one" or "just the premier" in
its agenda to force Kenya to withdraw its troops from Somalia. Clearly, the relentless and ongoing
attacks in 2014 and 2015 in Kenya close to the border with Somalia were signs that al-Shabab was
making good on its nefarious threat, while also making it clear that the entire border region was
vulnerable to terrorism.
Note that on April 6, 2015, Kenya launched air strikes on terror training bases in Somalia.
Kenyan military authorities made a point of noting that the air strikes were not being carried out in
retaliation to the Garissa massacre, but were simply the latest phase of ongoing operations against
al-Shabab in Somalia that commenced as an Africa Union mission in 2011. In an interview with
BBC News, a Kenyan military spokesperson, David Obonyo, said, "The bombings are part of the
continued process and engagement against al-Shabab, which will go on."
For its part, al-Shabab was basking in its latest successful operation in barbarism. Reiterating that
Kenya was in its crosshairs for the long haul, the Somali Islamist terror group declared a "long,
gruesome war" against Kenya.
Terror group al-Shabab carries out attacks in Kenya and Somalia
Kenya has been under an enduring terror threat from the Somalia-based Islamist terror group, alShabab for several years. The latest manifestation of violence at the hands of al-Shabab in Kenya
occurred in the first week of July 2015, when Islamist terrorists from al-Shabab carried out an
attack at a military camp in Madera county of Kenya close to the border with Somalia. The
assailants appeared to have detonated explosives before opening fire in the middle of the night. As
many as 14 people were killed as a result, with several more individuals being injured. The victims
were believed to be workers from a nearby quarry. Somalia-based al-Shabab wasted little time in
claiming responsibility for the bloodshed. Mandera was a prime spot for al-Shabab given the fact
that the terror group carried out an attack at a quarry in the area in late 2014, killing dozens of
quarry workers in that attack.
More recently, in April 2015, al-Shabab terrorists carried out a massacre at the Garissa University
in northeastern Kenya yielding a massive death toll. The massacre was the worst single terror
attack by al-Shabab on Kenyan territory. It marked the latest act of brutality by the Islamist terror
group against Kenya, which was participating in a joint regional operation aimed at eradicating the
terrorist threat posed by al-Shabab in the region. Al-Shabab's other notorious terror attack on
Kenyan soil took place in 2013 when the terror group carried out a brazen and brutal assault on the
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Westgate shopping mall in the Kenyan capital city of Nairobi killing dozens of people.
Meanwhile, al-Shabab remained active at home in Somalia. On July 10, 2015, the terror group
launched at attack at the Wehliya Hotel in Mogadishu, killing at least six civilians. Somali
authorities said that one assailant used a car bombing to commence the attack at the gate of the
hotel, leading to the deaths of the victims. Somali security forces responded and three terrorists
were killed in the ensuing melee. There were reports of a second attack and ensuing siege at a
second hotel in Mogadishu on the same day.
The attacks made clear that despite a regional effort to vanquish the terror group, al-Shabab
remained a menace not only at home in Somalia, but also across the border in Kenya. In fact, alShabab was continuing its campaign of aggression against Kenya in retaliation for that country's
involvement in the regional anti-Shabab effort.
Editor's Note:
sign onto the deal.
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barbarism.
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Written by Dr. Denise Youngblood Coleman, Editor in Chief at CountryWatch.com; see
Bibliography for research sources.
National Security
External Threats
The Ethiopian government has taken measures to inhibit a return to normalcy in Somalia, plagued
by infighting since the last permanent government there, the Siad Barre regime, fell in 1991. Its
actions are partially rooted in a history of tense relations between the two countries. The belief that
ethnic affiliations entitled Somalia to sovereignty over Ethiopian held lands and the opportunity that
Ethiopia’s state of internal disarray presented prompted Somali forces to invade in 1977. Within a
year they had been repelled. Enmity on both sides of the border clearly lingers, however. Somalia
plays host to a terrorist organization, Al-Ittihad al-Islami (AIAI), that was initially formed in the
early 1990s with the joint mandate of creating an Islamic government in Somalia and fostering the
secession of the Ogaden region of Ethiopia (see section below on terrorism). Ethiopia ’s
government has used the threat of AIAI to justify military incursions into Somalia. Likewise,
Ethiopia defiantly moved to establish alliances with Somali clans that opposed the authority of the
Transitional National Government, whose three-year mandate expired in August 2003, as well as
with the government of the breakaway Republic of Somaliland(see section below on insurgencies).
See "Political Conditions" and "Foreign Relations" for further details on the relationship between
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Somalia and Ethiopia.
Crime
In the absence of a strong central authority in Somalia, criminal activity is rampant. With the
exception ofSomaliland, where relative stability is enjoyed by inhabitants, crime is an extension of
the general instability in the region. Violent crimes are fairly common, and kidnapping and robbery
are becoming serious issues in the south.
Insurgencies
Somalia has suffered from rampant internal strife since its last permanent authority, the Siad Barre
regime, was ousted in 1991. Elements within Somalia have managed to carve out two semiautonomous regions in the north, the Republic of Somalilandand Puntland. Generally stable
conditions have prevailed in Somaliland since its 1991 inception, though the U.S. Department of
State reports several fatal attacks against foreign relief workers there. Its government claims to
represent an independent state; however, the international community has not recognized it as
such. Likewise, Puntland has enjoyed comparatively stable conditions, outside of an outbreak of
political violence there in 2002. Puntland’s government does not claim to represent a sovereign
nation, nor does it seek international recognition. Instead, it merely asserts a right to maintain
Puntland’s semi-autonomous status.
Outside of Somaliland and Puntland, an ongoing power struggle has engulfed most of the rest of
Somalia. Various factions continue to fight for control of Mogadishuand southern regions of the
country. Furthermore, in the absence of a strong central authority, Somaliahas become a haven for
terrorist organizations (see below section on terrorism). Likewise, criminal organizations have also
been allowed to flourish there.
See "Political Conditions" for information related to the extremist Islamist enclave, al-Shabab,
which is allied with the terror enclave, al-Qaida, and has, in more recent years, been deemed
responsible for ongoing instability and bloody violence within already-lawless Somalia, as well as a
spate of terror attacks on foreign soil.
Terrorism
In the absence of a strong central authority, Somaliahas become a haven for terrorist organizations.
The Somali insurgents who shot down two American Black Hawk helicopters in 1993 likely
received training from foreign terrorist organizations, namely al-Qaida. In its annual World
Factbook, the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency reported as of July 2005 a probable link between
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elements in Somaliaand global terrorist networks.
In addition to foreign elements, Somaliaalso hosts domestic terrorist organizations.
Al-Ittihad al-Islami (AIAI) was formed in the early 1990s with the joint mandate of creating an
Islamic government in Somalia and fostering the secession of the Ogaden region of Ethiopia. AIAI
is allegedly responsible for a series of bombings that took place in 1996 and 1997 in Ethiopia ’s
capital, Addis Ababa, as well as the 1998 kidnapping of several relief workers. The Ethiopian
military has significantly diminished AIAI’s operational capacity. As of the end of 2005, the
organization’s membership was estimated to be 2,000, only a small percentage of which was
militant. Most of these members operate in small groups or cells. AIAI continues to pose a danger
to Somaliaand the greater region, however, particularly in light of its reported ties to the al-Qaida
network.
See "Political Conditions" for information related to the extremist Islamist enclave, al-Shabab,
which is allied with the terror enclave, al-Qaida, and has, in more recent years, been deemed
responsible for ongoing instability and bloody violence within already-lawless Somalia, as well as a
spate of brazen terror attacks on foreign soil.
Somaliais currently party to none of the international conventions and protocols pertaining to
terrorism.
Internet.
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Africa.
Editor's Note
In its heydey, this Islamic militia held sway in the early 2000s in Somalia, but was and driven from
the Somali capital of Mogadishu in 2006 following an intervention by Ethiopian troops into Somali
territory on behalf of the weak transitional government of Somalia. Since that time, resurgent alShabab Islamists have been launching a violent insurgency. A ceasefire pact between the Somali
government and al-Shabab in 2008 had little positive effect since some factions did not sign onto
the deal.
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barbarism.
In early 2015, al-Shabab was extending its Jihadist ambitions with a call for supporters to carry out
terror attacks at popular shopping malls in the West. In fact, al-Shabab was urging sympathizers
and allies to launch mall attacks reminiscent of its own Westgate massacre in Kenya to be carried
out in Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom. But before such an end could take
place, in the spring of 2015, Kenya was targeted again by al-Shabab, with more than 145 people
dying Garissa University at the hands of al-Shabab terrorists. While Kenya vowed a strong
response, it was apparent that al-Shabab continued to function and to carry out brutal terror crossborder attacks with relative impunity, even declaring a "long and gruesome" war against Kenya.
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It should be noted that amidst this state of insecurity, Somalia has advanced a political transition
plan.
Defense Forces
Military Data
Military Branches:
National Security Force (NSF): Somali Army
Eligible age to enter service:
18 is the legal age for compulsory and voluntary military service
Mandatory Service Terms:
N/A
Manpower in general population-fit for military service:
N/A
Manpower reaching eligible age annually:
N/A
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Military Expenditures-Percent of GDP:
N/A
Appendix: Somaliland
People
The population of Somaliland is estimated at around 3.5 million with an average population growth
rate of 3.1 percent. Population density is estimated at approximately 25 persons per sq. kilometer.
Fifty-five percent of the population is either nomadic or semi-nomadic, while 45 percent live in
urban centers or rural towns. As of 2002, the average life expectancy for the male was 50 years
old and 55 years old for females.
Somali is the official language. Arabic and English are the other official languages. The official
religion is Sunni Islam.
There are 163 primary schools with a total student population of 33,000. The number of teachers
in primary education in the same educational year (1996/97) was 954. Several private schools
catered to primary, secondary and vocational trainings exist. At least two universities have been
opened in Somaliland during the last few years.
History
Political Background:
The Republic of Somaliland was known as the Somaliland Protectorate under the British rule from
1884 until June 26, 1960, when Somaliland got its independence from Britain. On July 1, 1960, it
joined the former Italian Somalia to form the Somali Republic. The union did not work according
to the aspirations of the people, and the strain led to a civil war from 1980s onwards and
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eventually to the collapse of the Somali Republic. After the collapse of the Somali Republic, the
people of Somaliland held a congress in which it was decided to withdraw from the Union with
Somalia and to reinstate Somaliland's sovereignty.
Somaliland's Parallel History:
The Somali people have inhabited the region of Eastern Africa, better known as the Horn of Africa
for close to 3,000 years. They have been basically nomads with no central authority until
colonialism took a foothold. In 1840 the British annexed Aden, across the Red Sea in present-day
Yemen and began to trade with Somalis in the present-day Somaliland, mostly in order to import
meat for their sailors. This trade contact initiated the first interactions between the people of
Somaliland and the Europeans.
In 1870, threatened by Europeans presence in the region, Egypt laid claim to Somaliland's coastal
areas. In 1877 Egypt and Britain signed a treaty over the occupation of Somaliland with Britain
recognizing the Egyptian presence in Somaliland coastal towns, thus establishing relationship with
the Egyptians and hence co-existing with each other on both sides of the Gulf of Aden that divides
Somaliland and Yemen. In 1884 Britain occupied the former Egyptian Somaliland forcing Egypt to
withdraw from Somaliland partly because of the military threats from other neighbors, notably
France operating from the French Somaliland (now Djibouti). In 1887, the British Somaliland
Protectorate was established with Major A. Hunt of Great of Britain, representing his government
drawing up protection treaties with several Somaliland clans guaranteeing them military support. As
a result of these treaties, Great Britain extended its rule over the coastal towns by having a
presence of vice-consuls in such places as Berbera and Seyla. The colonial state of Somaliland was
thus born.
In the early 1950s the people of Somaliland began to demand their independence. In 1957 the
governor appointed the first legislative council consisting six Somalis and eight British. In 1959 the
council was increased to 33 elected members and three official members. In April 1960, the British
colonial government agreed to Somaliland's independence. To facilitate the independence timetable,
the British colonial office convened a constitutional conference in London in May 1960. In the
aftermath of this conference, the colonial government abrogated 80-year-old treaties that had been
entered with various clans. On June 26, 1960, Somaliland became an independent state with its
own constitution and government headed by a prime minister, Mohamed Ibrahim Egal, the current
elected president of the Somaliland Republic. On July 1, 1960, it joined the former Italian Somalia
to form the Somali Republic.
It is important to emphasize that two territories had different historical milieu although the idea of
"greater Somalia" was always an aspiration. However, all was not well. The post-independence
period continued to experience clan loyalties, split between regional interest of the north and south
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coupled with ambitions for unification with Somali-inhabited territories in Kenya, Ethiopia and
Djibouti.
In 1969, a military coup overthrew the civilian government after the assassination of President
Sharmarke. The coup leader, Gen. Siad Barre seized power and assumed the leadership of the
country. He declared the country socialist and renamed it the Somali Democratic Republic. Unlike
the previous government, Barre's administration was a tightly controlled dictatorship and a
Revolutionary Council mainly composed of military and police.
Barre's dictatorial rule was to be the nucleus of opposition in Somali politics. SNM was launched in
1981 and was founded out of disillusionment and demoralization felt in Somalia due to Barre's
autocratic rule and Somalis defeat in the 1977-78 Ogaden War against Ethiopia. In the formative
years it drew financial and logistical support from Ethiopia. However, in May 1988 Barre and
Mengistu signed a peace agreement under which both countries resolved to drop support for rebel
movements that they hosted in their own countries. This agreement led to denial of financial and
logistical support. In the end, SNM launched an all out offensive against the Barre regime. In
retaliation, the Siad Barre regime redoubled its campaign of brutal repression and unleashed aerial
bombardment of northern Somalia and 80 percent of the buildings of Hargeisa were destroyed.
This campaign of terror extended to the rural areas where livestock were either confiscated or
killed and thus destroying people's livelihood.
In 1991, the SNM achieved victory with Siad Barre rolling back his army to the South where the
United Somali Congress, or USC, was also challenging his rule. His forces fled Mogadishu and
eventually he fled to Nigeria where he died in exile. In the aftermath of this, the SNM leadership
and other clan leaders held a congress in Burao to support the idea of reverting to the June 26,
1960, sovereignty of the Republic of Somaliland. The National Charter adopted in Burao later
accepted in subsequent peoples conference held in Borama and Hargeisa endorsed the idea.
Perhaps, the whole history of Somali is yet to be written. Yet Somalia has changed in many ways.
The difficult in overcoming the past, dealing with new challenges and establishing new state and
society relations are likely to be challenges for the leadership. Additionally, the struggle for
international recognition has to be met.
The country has a republican form of government. The legislative assembly is composed of two
chambers - an elected elder's chamber, and a house of representatives. An elected President and an
elected Vice-president head the government. The President nominates the cabinet which is
approved by the legislature.
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President Mohammed Ibrahim Egal died in a South African military hospital on May 3, 2002, from
complications after surgery. The vice president of this self-declared republic, Dahir Riyale Kahin,
was appointed as the successor to the presidency on that same day.
On April 19, 2003, the presidential election for the Republic of Somaliland peacefully concluded.
According to the Electoral Commission the UDUB party of the present government won by 80
votes from the nearest rival, the KULMIYE party. On May 16, 2003, the first elected president
and vice president of the Republic of Somaliland were sworn in Hargiesa. The president H.E.
Dahir Riyale Kahin and the vice president H.E. Ahmed Yusuf Yasin will hold their respective posts
for five years.
Local district elections were held in December 2002. Throughout the six regions of Somaliland,
people cast their votes at 800 polling stations. Six political parties participated in the elections:
ASAD, HORMOOD, KULMIYE, SAHAN, UCID and UDIB.
According to a July 2003 International Crisis Group report on the region, "some semblance of
constitutional order and administrative structure is in place."
Supplementary Sources: Government of Somaliland and International Crisis Group
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Chapter 3
Economic Overview
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Economic Overview
Overview
War-weary and fragmented Somalia is one of the world's poorest and least developed countries.
Years of civil conflict -- the aftermath of which continues to foster insecurity in many parts of the
country -- and poor access to services and infrastructure have only worsened conditions. Famine is
a constant threat to the population, half of whom live in extreme poverty.
Somalia has had no effective government since 1991 when President Siad Barre was overthrown
by opposing clans who failed to agree on a replacement and plunged the country into lawlessness
and clan warfare. In recent years, the country has been controlled by various political and regional
factions, as well as local warlords. In 2004, after protracted talks in Kenya, the country's main
warlords and politicians signed a declaration on a framework for a five-year transition period. A
transitional parliament was inaugurated in August 2004 that later elected Abdulahi Yusuf as
President of the Somalia Transitional Federal Government (TFG). But its authority was challenged
in 2006 by the rise of Islamists who gained control of much of the south, including the capital.
With the backing of Ethiopian troops, the TFG had control of Mogadishu at the end of 2006.
However, a surge in violence ensued owing to the public resentment of the continued presence of
Ethiopian troops in Somalia. A national reconciliation process led by the United Nations resulted in
the signing of an agreement between the TFG and opposition groups in Djibouti in June 2008.
Islamist insurgents fought back against the government and Ethiopian forces, regaining control of
most of southern Somalia by late 2008. Ethiopia pulled its troops out in January 2009. Somalia's
parliament met in neighboring Djibouti in late January and swore in 149 new members from the
main opposition movement, the Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia. The parliament also
extended the mandate of the transitional federal government for another two years, and installed
Islamist Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed as the new president. Since then, however, there have been
no signs of peace and stability, and the government remains fragile with frequent attacks from
radical military groups.
Due to armed attacks on and threats to humanitarian aid workers, the World Food Programme
partially suspended its operations in southern Somalia in early January 2010 pending improvement
in the security situation. Somalia's arrears to the IMF have continued to grow. In late 2011,
Somalia appealed against a decision by a U.S. bank to shut down its money transfer service that
serves as a “lifeline” for tens of thousands of Somalis who depend on remittances. Somali officials
estimate that $2 billion – one-third of the country’s GDP is channeled to Somalia through small
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money transfer businesses. Such a closure could lead to the collapse of the economy, they claimed.
In September 2012, Somalian lawmakers elected political newcomer Hassan Sheikh Mohamud as
president in the most inclusive election in the country in years. The move angered Islamist rebels,
who called the new leader a traitor while vowing to continue their war to make Somalia a strict
Islamic state. With ongoing lawlessness and insecurity, Somalia remains in a situation of crisis and
half of the population is in need of humanitarian aid. On the positive side, by September 2012,
Somali pirate activity was expected to stay low despite the end of the monsoon season, as
aggressive navy action, private armed security teams and defensive measures by ships was keeping
pirates away. In 2011, Somali piracy netted $160 million, and cost the world economy some $7
billion, according to the American One Earth Future foundation. But in the first half of 2012 there
were just 69 incidents involving Somali pirates, compared with 163 in the same period last year,
International Maritime Bureau data cited by Reuters showed.
In June 2013, the IMF met with Somali authorities and issued a statement noting that it was
exploring ways in which it could provide policy advice and technical assistance to the country for
the first time in two decades. The IMF noted: “As it (Somalia) gradually emerges from a
prolonged period of internal strife, few economic activities have survived, and much is needed to
place it on the path to recovery…This first fact-finding mission found an active resurgence of the
private sector in the services industry, namely in the communications, construction, and money
transfer sectors.” Then, in early November 2013, Somalia's central bank governor resigned less
than two months after taking the position. Yussur Abrar was the first woman to occupy the post.
She said she was quitting because of pressure to authorize improper deals. Her stepping down was
considered to be a blow to foreign donors providing millions of dollars in aid to the country, which
was dealing with an Islamist insurgency.
In early October 2014, Al Jazeera reported that Mogadishu’s once bustling central business district
was experiencing a construction boom. The economic revival was attracting Somali professionals
who had returned from living abroad. By late October 2014, the World Bank said it was reengaged in Somalia for the first time in 23 years. The World Bank was again providing public
financial management, capacity building and budget support to the country. This was partly
because Somalia had ended a long period of transitional government and had a new constitution,
federal institutions, parliament, president and cabinet.
In October 2015, flash floods in Somalia destroyed thousands of makeshift homes, as well as
latrines and shallow wells, according to the United Nations. Sadly, the floods - which made roads
impassable and cut thousands off from aid – had the potential to reverse many of the humanitarian
gains made in southern Somalia since 2011. Some 3.2 million Somalis -- one-third of the
population --already needed life-saving aid and over one million were internally displaced before
the rains began on Oct. 7.
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
"The El Niño conditions come amid an already fragile humanitarian situation," the U.N. Office for
the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in a statement, as cited by Thomson
Reuters Foundation.
Economic Performance
Since 1991, Somalia has been without an effective central government or any governmental
institutions administrating the country’s affairs. Therefore, economic data such as GDP growth
rate, inflation, and the current account balance is not readily available. Years of civil conflicts as
well as anarchy have significantly damaged the country’s economy. Because of the lack of
effective national government, however, Somalia has maintained an informal economy largely
based on livestock, money transfer companies, and telecommunications. The private sector has
flourished as the country has focused on trading with neighboring and Asian countries, processing
agricultural products, and manufacturing on a small scale. Livestock, hides, fish, and bananas are
Somalia’s major exports. Without a formal banking sector, remittance/money transfer services have
been developed throughout the country, handling up to about US$1.5 billion in remittances a year.
Hotels also continue to operate, supported by private-security militias.
According to CountryWatch estimated calculations for 2014:
Real GDP growth rate was: -1.5 percent
The fiscal deficit/surplus as percent of GDP (%) was: 0.0 percent
Inflation was measured at: 8.4 percent
Updated in 2015
*Please note that the figures in our Economic Performance section are estimates or forecasts
based on IMF-based data that are formulated using CountryWatch models of analysis.
Supplementary Sources: International Monetary Fund, Al Jazeera, World Bank, Thomson Reuters
Foundation and Reuters
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
Nominal GDP (LCU
billions)
9,673.13
9,918.74
10,170.59
10,428.84
33,078.33
Nominal GDP Growth
Rate (%)
2.539
2.539
2.539
2.539
220.385
Consumption (LCU
billions)
5,416.95
5,554.50
5,695.53
5,840.15
19,006.70
Government
Expenditure (LCU
billions)
2,031.36
2,082.94
2,135.82
2,190.06
7,127.51
Gross Capital Formation
(LCU billions)
1,837.89
1,884.56
1,932.41
1,981.48
6,608.64
Exports of Goods &
Services (LCU billions)
4,062.72
4,165.87
4,271.65
4,380.11
4,378.47
Imports of Goods &
Services (LCU billions)
3,772.52
3,868.31
3,966.53
4,067.25
4,042.99
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
Population,
total
(million)
9.926
10.086
10.252
10.428
10.616
Population
growth (%)
1.615
1.612
1.645
1.721
1.806
Nominal
GDP per
Capita
(LCU
1000s)
974,559.97
983,452.39
992,101.37
1,000,076.37
3,115,782.81
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
Real Gross Domestic
Product (LCU billions
2005 base)
11,681.11
12,229.18
12,950.35
13,863.84
45,560.18
Real GDP Growth
Rate (%)
5.588
4.692
5.897
7.054
228.626
GDP Deflator
(2005=100.0)
82.810
81.107
78.535
75.223
72.604
Inflation, GDP
Deflator (%)
-2.8878
-2.0563
-3.1710
-4.2172
-3.4826
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
Government Fiscal Budget
(billions)
2,969.00
2,985.05
2,966.27
2,914.09
2,882.91
Fiscal Budget Growth Rate
(percentage)
-0.5360
0.5405
-0.6289
-1.7594
-1.0700
National Tax Rate Net of
Transfers (%)
29.989
29.405
28.497
27.302
8.515
Government Revenues Net
of Transfers (LCU billions)
2,900.91
2,916.62
2,898.29
2,847.28
2,816.75
Government Surplus(-)
Deficit(+) (LCU billions)
-68.0940
-68.4278
-67.9807
-66.8068
-66.1567
Government Surplus(+)
Deficit(-) (%GDP)
-0.7039
-0.6899
-0.6684
-0.6406
-0.2000
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
Money and Quasi-Money
(M2) (LCU billions)
6,081.35
6,275.23
6,615.49
7,019.12
22,263.34
Money Supply Growth
Rate (%)
1.827
3.188
5.422
6.101
217.181
Lending Interest Rate (%)
15.125
16.919
13.226
13.806
19.024
Unemployment Rate (%)
8.799
9.425
9.392
9.343
8.528
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
Official Exchange Rate
(LCU/$US)
9,063.14
7,595.48
7,271.05
7,586.68
23,215.40
Trade Balance NIPA ($US
billions)
0.0320
0.0392
0.0420
0.0412
0.0144
Trade Balance % of GDP
3.000
3.000
3.000
3.000
1.014
Total Foreign Exchange
Reserves ($US billions)
0.9770
1.002
1.027
1.053
0.2924
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
Data in US Dollars
Data in US Dollars
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
Nominal GDP ($US billions)
1.067
1.306
1.399
1.375
1.425
Exports ($US billions)
0.4483
0.5485
0.5875
0.5773
0.1886
Imports ($US billions)
0.4162
0.5093
0.5455
0.5361
0.1742
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
Petroleum Consumption (TBPD)
5.556
5.556
5.600
5.762
5.987
Petroleum Production (TBPD)
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Petroleum Net Exports (TBPD)
-5.5564
-5.5564
-5.6000
-5.7617
-5.9870
Natural Gas Consumption (bcf)
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Natural Gas Production (bcf)
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Natural Gas Net Exports (bcf)
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Coal Consumption (1000s st)
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Coal Production (1000s st)
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Coal Net Exports (1000s st)
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Nuclear Production (bil kwh)
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Hydroelectric Production (bil
kwh)
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Renewables Production (bil kwh)
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
Petroleum Consumption (Quads)
0.0119
0.0119
0.0120
0.0123
0.0128
Petroleum Production (Quads)
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Petroleum Net Exports (Quads)
-0.0119
-0.0119
-0.0120
-0.0123
-0.0128
Natural Gas Consumption
(Quads)
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Natural Gas Production (Quads)
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Natural Gas Net Exports (Quads)
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Coal Consumption (Quads)
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Coal Production (Quads)
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Coal Net Exports (Quads)
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Nuclear Production (Quads)
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Hydroelectric Production (Quads)
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Renewables Production (Quads)
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
Petroleum-WTI ($/bbl)
95.054
94.159
97.943
93.112
48.709
Natural Gas-Henry Hub ($/mmbtu)
3.999
2.752
3.729
4.369
2.614
Coal Thermal-Australian ($/mt)
121.448
96.364
84.562
70.130
57.511
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
CO2 Emissions
CO2 Emissions
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
Petroleum Based (mm mt C)
0.2651
0.2651
0.2671
0.2749
0.2856
Natural Gas Based (mm mt C)
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Coal Based (mm mt C)
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Total CO2 Emissions (mm mt C)
0.2651
0.2651
0.2671
0.2749
0.2856
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
Corn Total Consumption
(1000 metric tons)
110.630
295.862
152.513
96.019
94.646
Corn Production (1000 metric
tons)
65.005
144.687
148.888
96.453
89.895
Corn Net Exports (1000
metric tons)
-45.6247
-151.1754
-3.6251
0.4341
-4.7504
Soybeans Total Consumption
(1000 metric tons)
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Soybeans Production (1000
metric tons)
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Soybeans Net Exports (1000
metric tons)
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Rice Total Consumption
(1000 metric tons)
4.270
5.356
1.970
2.000
1.922
Rice Production (1000 metric
tons)
4.273
5.356
1.969
1.999
1.867
Rice Net Exports (1000
metric tons)
0.0029
-0.0001
-0.0009
-0.0008
-0.0549
Coffee Total Consumption
(metric tons)
0.0000
0.0000
3.000
0.0000
0.0000
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
Coffee Production (metric
tons)
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Coffee Net Exports (metric
tons)
0.0000
0.0000
-3.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Cocoa Beans Total
Consumption (metric tons)
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Cocoa Beans Production
(metric tons)
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Cocoa Beans Net Exports
(metric tons)
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Wheat Total Consumption
(1000 metric tons)
10.253
1.150
1.150
1.079
0.9704
Wheat Production (1000
metric tons)
1.044
1.005
0.9984
1.063
0.9146
Wheat Net Exports (1000
metric tons)
-9.2093
-0.1447
-0.1516
-0.0156
-0.0558
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
Corn Pricing Summary
($/metric ton)
291.684
298.417
259.389
192.881
169.750
Soybeans Pricing Summary
($/metric ton)
540.667
591.417
538.417
491.771
390.417
Rice Pricing Summary ($/metric
ton)
458.558
525.071
473.989
425.148
386.033
Coffee Pricing Summary
($/kilogram)
5.976
4.111
3.076
4.424
3.526
Cocoa Beans Pricing Summary
($/kilogram)
2.980
2.392
2.439
3.062
3.135
Wheat Pricing Summary
($/metric ton)
316.264
313.242
312.248
284.895
203.177
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
Copper Consumption (1000 mt)
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Copper Production (1000 mt)
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Copper Net Exports (1000 mt)
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Zinc Consumption (1000 mt)
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Zinc Production (1000 mt)
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Zinc Exports (1000 mt)
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Lead Consumption (1000 mt)
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Lead Production (1000 mt)
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Lead Exports (1000 mt)
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Tin Consumption (1000 mt)
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Tin Production (1000 mt)
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Tin Exports (1000 mt)
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Nickel Consumption (1000 mt)
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Nickel Production (1000 mt)
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
Nickel Exports (1000 mt)
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Gold Consumption (kg)
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Gold Production (kg)
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Gold Exports (kg)
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Silver Consumption (mt)
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Silver Production (mt)
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Silver Exports (mt)
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
Copper ($/mt)
8,828.19
7,962.35
7,332.10
6,863.40
5,510.46
Zinc ($/mt)
2,193.90
1,950.41
1,910.26
2,160.97
1,931.68
Tin ($/mt)
26,053.68
21,125.99
22,282.80
21,898.87
16,066.63
Lead ($/mt)
2,400.81
2,064.64
2,139.79
2,095.46
1,787.82
Nickel ($/mt)
22,910.36
17,547.55
15,031.80
16,893.38
11,862.64
Gold ($/oz)
1,569.21
1,669.52
1,411.46
1,265.58
1,160.66
Silver ($/oz)
35.224
31.137
23.850
19.071
15.721
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
The Economic Performance rankings are calculated by CountryWatch's editorial team, and are
based on criteria including sustained economic growth, monetary stability, current account deficits,
budget surplus, unemployment and structural imbalances. Scores are assessed from 0 to 100 using
this aforementioned criteria as well as CountryWatch's proprietary economic research data and
models.
Bank
stability
risk
Monetary/
Currency
stability
Government
Finances
Empl./
Unempl.
Econ.GNP
growth or
decline/
forecast
0 - 100
0 - 100
0 - 100
0 - 100
%
North Americas
Canada
92
69
35
38
3.14%
United States
94
76
4
29
3.01%
Austria
90
27
30
63
1.33%
Belgium
88
27
19
23
1.15%
Cyprus
81
91
16
80
-0.69%
Denmark
97
70
45
78
1.20%
Finland
89
27
41
33
1.25%
Western Europe
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
France
87
27
18
27
1.52%
Germany
86
27
22
21
1.25%
Greece
79
27
5
24
-2.00%
Iceland
90
17
2
34
-3.04%
Italy
85
27
37
24
0.84%
Ireland
92
27
11
10
-1.55%
Luxembourg
99
27
28
66
2.08%
Malta
77
27
41
51
0.54%
Netherlands
91
27
26
74
1.30%
Norway
98
44
10
76
1.08%
Portugal
77
27
13
20
0.29%
Spain
83
27
9
3
-0.41%
Sweden
94
72
54
32
1.23%
Switzerland
97
86
55
77
1.53%
United Kingdom
85
12
9
37
1.34%
Albania
44
60
33
6
2.30%
Armenia
45
59
49
30
1.80%
Central and
Eastern Europe
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
Azerbaijan
56
4
84
99
2.68%
Belarus
59
21
83
98
2.41%
Bosnia and
Herzegovina
34
68
69
N/A
0.50%
Bulgaria
58
75
88
49
0.20%
Croatia
69
68
94
9
0.18%
Czech Republic
80
89
29
70
1.67%
Estonia
72
90
66
92
0.80%
Georgia
36
60
53
56
2.00%
Hungary
70
66
26
54
-0.16%
Latvia
67
100
65
44
-3.97%
Lithuania
65
91
87
79
-1.65%
Macedonia (FYR)
53
69
56
2
2.03%
Moldova
23
36
81
67
2.50%
Poland
74
74
38
12
2.72%
Romania
62
56
70
62
0.75%
Russia
73
18
90
8
4.00%
Serbia
48
49
52
5
1.97%
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
Montenegro
39
27
73
1
-1.70%
Slovak Republic
80
62
30
14
4.06%
Slovenia
81
27
36
65
1.12%
Ukraine
41
11
57
N/A
3.68%
Algeria
57
18
96
7
4.55%
Angola
49
1
97
N/A
7.05%
Benin
19
91
20
N/A
3.22%
Botswana
68
58
76
N/A
6.33%
Burkina Faso
16
91
13
N/A
4.41%
Burundi
2
91
6
N/A
3.85%
Cameroon
26
91
91
N/A
2.58%
Cape Verde
52
87
4
N/A
4.96%
Central African
Republic
9
91
32
N/A
3.18%
Chad
22
91
89
N/A
4.42%
Congo
52
87
87
N/A
12.13%
Côte d’Ivoire
25
91
82
28
2.98%
Africa
Dem. Republic
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
Congo
4
91
47
N/A
5.44%
Djibouti
31
76
50
N/A
4.47%
Egypt
37
20
24
69
5.01%
Equatorial Guinea
82
91
85
N/A
0.94%
Eritrea
1
3
1
18
1.81%
Ethiopia
6
45
8
N/A
6.96%
Gabon
64
91
96
N/A
5.36%
Gambia
8
48
86
N/A
4.82%
Ghana
9
11
69
N/A
4.50%
Guinea
10
7
91
N/A
3.03%
Guinea-Bissau
5
91
46
N/A
3.47%
Kenya
20
41
59
N/A
4.11%
Lesotho
13
40
12
N/A
2.98%
Liberia
12
73
74
N/A
5.92%
Libya
73
2
94
N/A
5.22%
Madagascar
4
22
24
N/A
-1.02%
Malawi
7
25
55
N/A
5.96%
Mali
20
91
82
N/A
5.12%
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
Mauritania
15
13
93
N/A
4.58%
Mauritius
65
52
56
55
4.10%
Morocco
37
72
48
26
3.23%
Mozambique
12
23
71
N/A
6.45%
Namibia
40
39
62
N/A
1.70%
Niger
10
91
21
N/A
4.41%
Nigeria
30
6
61
N/A
6.98%
Rwanda
21
40
68
N/A
5.39%
Sao Tome &
Principe
1
61
100
N/A
3.40%
Senegal
24
91
63
N/A
3.44%
Seychelles
60
67
97
N/A
4.01%
Sierra Leone
5
10
39
N/A
4.77%
Somalia
2
38
59
N/A
3.19%
South Africa
61
37
70
N/A
2.59%
Sudan
16
5
73
N/A
5.52%
Swaziland
32
44
79
N/A
1.09%
Tanzania
15
45
32
N/A
6.17%
Togo
8
91
92
N/A
2.56%
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
Tunisia
50
61
44
39
4.00%
Uganda
11
17
54
N/A
5.59%
Zambia
29
20
49
N/A
5.84%
Zimbabwe
0
8
16
N/A
2.24%
Argentina
66
3
80
36
3.50%
Belize
47
76
80
N/A
1.00%
Bolivia
32
51
61
81
3.99%
Brazil
71
47
78
11
5.50%
Chile
78
25
92
73
4.72%
Columbia
47
52
34
47
2.25%
Costa Rica
60
42
39
57
3.45%
Ecuador
43
76
75
64
2.51%
El Salvador
35
76
67
N/A
1.04%
Guatemala
46
59
58
N/A
2.52%
Honduras
27
47
58
N/A
2.00%
Mexico
69
42
52
61
4.07%
Nicaragua
23
49
42
N/A
1.75%
South and
Central America
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
Panama
66
76
72
45
5.00%
Paraguay
35
46
66
16
5.27%
Peru
59
66
75
22
6.33%
Suriname
58
26
81
59
4.02%
Uruguay
70
26
27
N/A
5.71%
Venezuela
55
1
28
13
-2.63%
Antigua & Barbuda
72
76
15
N/A
-2.01%
Bahamas
74
76
45
87
-0.50%
Barbados
67
76
33
15
-0.50%
Caribbean
Bermuda
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Cuba
45
76
18
95
0.25%
Dominica
53
76
65
N/A
1.40%
Dominican Republic
54
39
43
4
3.50%
Grenada
63
76
48
N/A
0.80%
Guyana
28
56
17
N/A
4.36%
Haiti
11
27
89
N/A
-8.50%
Jamaica
42
9
85
19
-0.28%
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
St Lucia
55
76
67
N/A
1.14%
St Vincent &
Grenadines
49
76
95
N/A
0.50%
Trinidad & Tobago
82
37
77
72
2.13%
Bahrain
84
76
62
91
3.48%
Iran
51
19
40
58
3.01%
Iraq
48
9
8
N/A
7.27%
Israel
87
62
12
48
3.20%
Jordan
41
51
3
N/A
4.10%
Kuwait
96
4
99
N/A
3.10%
Lebanon
63
54
2
N/A
6.00%
Oman
76
16
88
N/A
4.71%
Qatar
99
16
83
N/A
18.54%
Saudi Arabia
76
8
98
N/A
3.70%
Syria
61
24
40
N/A
5.00%
Turkey
75
23
27
60
5.20%
United Arab
Emirates
96
24
98
94
1.29%
Middle East
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
Yemen
28
2
78
N/A
7.78%
Afghanistan
17
70
74
N/A
8.64%
Bangladesh
13
43
25
N/A
5.38%
Bhutan
24
55
5
N/A
6.85%
Brunei
78
19
99
75
0.48%
Cambodia
18
67
42
N/A
4.77%
China
54
90
19
68
11.03%
Hong Kong
89
76
14
82
5.02%
India
31
38
34
35
8.78%
Indonesia
42
46
37
31
6.00%
Japan
88
89
6
71
1.90%
Kazakhstan
62
13
76
42
2.40%
Korea North
18
65
23
N/A
1.50%
Korea South
83
63
22
85
4.44%
Kyrgyz Republic
24
15
84
88
4.61%
Laos
17
54
7
N/A
7.22%
Macao
91
76
14
82
3.00%
Asia
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
Malaysia
68
65
44
90
4.72%
Maldives
44
55
17
N/A
3.45%
Mongolia
33
5
77
93
7.22%
Myanmar
3
41
72
N/A
5.26%
Nepal
3
14
25
N/A
2.97%
Pakistan
19
15
31
41
3.00%
Papua New Guinea
75
50
11
N/A
7.96%
Philippines
30
48
53
43
3.63%
Singapore
93
75
63
40
5.68%
Sri Lanka
38
22
10
N/A
5.50%
Taiwan
84
88
35
89
6.50%
Tajikistan
6
6
60
97
4.00%
Thailand
56
64
90
96
5.46%
Turkmenistan
51
53
68
N/A
12.00%
Uzbekistan
40
10
60
100
8.00%
Vietnam
25
12
20
N/A
6.04%
96
63
31
46
2.96%
Pacific
Australia
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
Fiji
46
53
3
N/A
2.06%
Marshall Islands
27
76
46
N/A
1.08%
Micronesia (Fed.
States)
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
New Caledonia
96
73
51
52
2.00%
New Zealand
98
73
51
52
2.00%
Samoa
34
88
64
N/A
-2.77%
Solomon Islands
14
71
1
N/A
3.36%
Tonga
26
57
38
N/A
0.60%
Vanuatu
33
58
47
N/A
3.80%
Source:
CountryWatch Inc. www.countrywatch.com
Updated:
This material was produced in 2010; it is subject to updating in 2012.
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
div style='margin-top:40%;padding-top:40%'>
Chapter 4
Investment Overview
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
Foreign Investment Climate
Background
Somalia's economic fortunes are being driven by its deep political divisions. The northern area has
declared its independence as "Somaliland"; the central area, Puntland, is a self-declared
autonomous state; and the remaining southern portion is riddled with the struggles of rival factions.
Economic life continues, in part because much activity is local and relatively easily protected.
Agriculture is the most important sector, with livestock normally accounting for about 40 percent of
GDP and about 65 percent of export earnings, but Saudi Arabia's ban on Somali livestock,
because of Rift Valley Fever concerns, severely hampered the sector. Nomads and semi-nomads,
who are dependent upon livestock for their livelihood, make up a large portion of the population.
Livestock, hides, fish, charcoal, and bananas are Somalia's principal exports, while sugar, sorghum,
corn, qat, and machined goods are the principal imports. Somalia's small industrial sector, based on
the processing of agricultural products, has largely been looted and sold as scrap metal. Despite the
seeming anarchy, Somalia's service sector has managed to survive and grow. Telecommunication
firms provide wireless services in most major cities and offer the lowest international call rates on
the continent. In the absence of a formal banking sector, money exchange services have sprouted
throughout the country. Mogadishu's main market offers a variety of goods from food to the
newest electronic gadgets. Political and civil chaos, however, have interfered with any broadbased economic development and international aid arrangements. Due to armed attacks on and
threats to humanitarian aid workers, the World Food Programme partially suspended its operations
in southern Somalia in early January 2010 pending improvement in the security situation.
Foreign Investment Assessment
The current political situation in Somalia is not conducive to foreign investment at any level.
Because of the civil war, many major industries have languished and the infrastructure has been
completely devastated. Notable exceptions have been in the areas of hotel services,
telecommunications and money exchange. As there is no real central government, no investment
policy, no taxation regime, and no government body geared toward the promotion of investment.
As well, the regulatory system is basically non-existent.
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
Agriculture and Industry
Agriculture - products: cattle, sheep, goats; bananas, sorghum, corn, coconuts, rice, sugarcane,
mangoes, sesame seeds, beans; fish
Industries: a few light industries, including sugar refining, textiles, petroleum refining (mostly shut
down), wireless communication
Import Commodities and Import Partners
Imports - commodities: manufactures, petroleum products, foodstuffs, construction materials,
qat
Imports - partners: Djibouti 33.9%, Kenya 15.5%, Brazil 6.6%, UAE 5.1%, Thailand 4.2%
Export Commodities and Export Partners
Exports - commodities: livestock, bananas, hides, fish, charcoal, scrap metal
Exports - partners: UAE 37.2%, Yemen 22.3%, Oman 10.1%, China 6%, Kuwait 4.4%, Nigeria
4%
Roads, Airports, Ports and Harbors
Highways: total: 22,100 km
Ports and harbors: Boosaaso, Berbera, Chisimayu (Kismaayo), Merca, Mogadishu
Airports 60; with paved runways, 6
Telephone System
Telephones - main lines in use: 100,000 (estimate)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 35,000
general assessment: the public telecommunications system was almost completely destroyed or
dismantled by the civil war factions; private wireless companies offer service in most major cities
and charge the lowest international rates on the continent
domestic: local cellular telephone systems have been established in Mogadishu and in several other
population centers
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
international: country code - 252
note - international connections are available from Mogadishu by satellite
Internet Users
approximately 90,000
Labor Force
Labor force: 3.7 million (very few are skilled laborers)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture (mostly pastoral nomadism) 71%, industry and services
29%
Legal System and Considerations
Although Islamic laws (Shariah) dictate many of the legal parameters of life; there is no national
judicial system. As well, there is no means for arbitrary intervention in dispute settlements.
Corruption Perception Ranking
N/A; see Corruption Perception index reported by Transparency International elsewhere in this
report, from least to most corrupt countries.
Cultural Considerations
As the official religion is Islam, visitors to Somalia should respect the Muslim codes of behavior
and dress.
Country Website
N/A
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
The Foreign Investment Index is a proprietary index measuring attractiveness to international
investment flows. The Foreign Investment Index is calculated using an established methodology by
CountryWatch's Editor-in-Chief and is based on a given country's economic stability (sustained
economic growth, monetary stability, current account deficits, budget surplus), economic risk (risk
of non-servicing of payments for goods or services, loans and trade-related finance, risk of
sovereign default), business and investment climate (property rights, labor force and laws,
regulatory transparency, openness to foreign investment, market conditions, and stability of
government). Scores are assigned from 0-10 using the aforementioned criteria. A score of 0 marks
the lowest level of foreign investment viability, while a score of 10 marks the highest level of
foreign investment viability, according to this proprietary index.
Somalia Review 2016
Country
Assessment
Afghanistan
2
Albania
4.5
Algeria
6
Andorra
9
Angola
4.5-5
Antigua
8.5
Argentina
5
Armenia
5
Australia
9.5
Somalia
Somalia Review 2016
Austria
9-9.5
Azerbaijan
5
Bahamas
9
Bahrain
7.5
Bangladesh
4.5
Barbados
9
Belarus
4
Belgium
9
Belize
7.5
Benin
5.5
Bhutan
4.5
Bolivia
4.5
Bosnia-Herzegovina
5
Botswana
7.5-8
Brazil
8
Brunei
7
Bulgaria
5.5
Burkina Faso
4
Somalia
Somalia Review 2016
Burma (Myanmar)
4.5
Burundi
4
Cambodia
4.5
Cameroon
5
Canada
9.5
Cape Verde
6
3
Chad
4
Chile
9
China
7.5
China: Hong Kong
8.5
China: Taiwan
8.5
Colombia
7
Comoros
4
Congo DRC
4
Congo RC
5
Costa Rica
8
Cote d'Ivoire
4.5
Somalia
Somalia Review 2016
Croatia
7
Cuba
4.5
Cyprus
7
Czech Republic
8.5
Denmark
9.5
Djibouti
4.5
Dominica
6
Dominican Republic
6.5
East Timor
4.5
Ecuador
5.5
Egypt
4.5-5
El Salvador
6
Equatorial Guinea
4.5
Eritrea
3.5
Estonia
8
Ethiopia
4.5
Fiji
5
Finland
9
Somalia
Somalia Review 2016
Former Yugoslav Rep. of Macedonia
5
France
9-9.5
Gabon
5.5
Gambia
5
Georgia
5
Germany
9-9.5
Ghana
5.5
Greece
5
Grenada
7.5
Guatemala
5.5
Guinea
3.5
Guinea-Bissau
3.5
Guyana
4.5
Haiti
4
Holy See (Vatican)
n/a
Hong Kong (China)
8.5
Honduras
5.5
Hungary
8
Somalia
Somalia Review 2016
Iceland
8-8.5
India
8
Indonesia
5.5
Iran
4
Iraq
3
Ireland
8
Israel
8.5
Italy
8
Jamaica
5.5
Japan
9.5
Jordan
6
Kazakhstan
6
Kenya
5
Kiribati
5.5
Korea, North
1
Korea, South
9
Kosovo
4.5
Kuwait
8.5
Somalia
Somalia Review 2016
Kyrgyzstan
4.5
Laos
4
Latvia
7
Lebanon
5
Lesotho
5.5
Liberia
3.5
Libya
3
Liechtenstein
9
Lithuania
7.5
Luxembourg
9-9.5
Madagascar
4.5
Malawi
4.5
Malaysia
8.5
Maldives
6.5
Mali
5
Malta
9
Marshall Islands
5
Mauritania
4.5
Somalia
Somalia Review 2016
Mauritius
7.5-8
Mexico
6.5-7
Micronesia
5
Moldova
4.5-5
Monaco
9
Mongolia
5
Montenegro
5.5
Morocco
7.5
Mozambique
5
Namibia
7.5
Nauru
4.5
Nepal
4
Netherlands
9-9.5
New Zealand
9.5
Nicaragua
5
Niger
4.5
Nigeria
4.5
Norway
9-9.5
Somalia
Somalia Review 2016
Oman
8
Pakistan
4
Palau
4.5-5
Panama
7
Papua New Guinea
5
Paraguay
6
Peru
6
Philippines
6
Poland
8
Portugal
7.5-8
Qatar
9
Romania
6-6.5
Russia
6
Rwanda
4
8
Saint Lucia
8
7
Samoa
7
Somalia
Somalia Review 2016
San Marino
8.5
4.5-5
Saudi Arabia
7
Senegal
6
Serbia
6
Seychelles
5
Sierra Leone
4
Singapore
9.5
8.5
Slovenia
8.5-9
Solomon Islands
5
Somalia
2
South Africa
8
Spain
7.5-8
Sri Lanka
5.5
Sudan
4
Suriname
5
Swaziland
4.5
Somalia
Somalia Review 2016
Sweden
9.5
Switzerland
9.5
Syria
2.5
Tajikistan
4
Taiwan (China)
8.5
Tanzania
5
Thailand
7.5-8
Togo
4.5-5
Tonga
5.5-6
Trinidad and Tobago
8-8.5
Tunisia
6
Turkey
6.5-7
Turkmenistan
4
Tuvalu
7
Uganda
5
Ukraine
4.5-5
8.5
United Kingdom
9
Somalia
United States
9
Uruguay
6.5-7
Uzbekistan
4
Vanuatu
6
Venezuela
5
Vietnam
5.5
Yemen
3
Zambia
4.5-5
Zimbabwe
3.5
Editor's Note:
As of 2015, the global economic crisis (emerging in 2008) had affected many countries across the
world, resulting in changes to their rankings. Among those countries affected were top tier
economies, such as the United Kingdom, Iceland, Switzerland and Austria. However, in all these
cases, their rankings have moved back upward in the last couple of years as anxieties have
eased. Other top tier countries, such as Spain, Portugal, Ireland, and Italy, suffered some
effects due to debt woes and the concomitant effect on the euro zone. Greece, another euro zone
nation, was also downgraded due to its sovereign debt crisis; however, Greece's position on the
precipice of default incurred a sharper downgrade than the other four euro zone countries
mentioned above. Cyprus' exposure to Greek bank yielded a downgrade in its case. Slovenia and
Latvia have been slightly downgraded due to a mix of economic and political concerns but could
easily be upgraded in a future assessment, should these concerns abate. Meanwhile, the crisis in
eastern Ukraine fueled downgrades in that country and neighboring Russia.
Despite the "trifecta of tragedy" in Japan in 2011 -- the earthquake, the ensuing tsunami, and the
resulting nuclear crisis -- and the appreciable destabilization of the economic and political terrain
therein, this country has only slightly been downgraded. Japan's challenges have been assessed to
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
be transient, the government remains accountable, and there is little risk of default. Both India
and China retain their rankings; India holds a slightly higher ranking than China due to its record of
democratic representation and accountability.
There were shifts in opposite directions for Mali and Nigeria versus the Central African Republic,
Burkina Faso, and Burundi. Mali was slightly upgraded due to its efforts to return to constitutional
order following the 2012 coup and to neutralize the threat of separatists and Islamists. Likewise, a
new government in Nigeria generated a slight upgrade as the country attempts to confront
corruption, crime, and terrorism. But the Central African Republic was downgraded due to the
takeover of the government by Seleka rebels and the continued decline into lawlessness in that
country. Likewise, the attempts by the leaders of Burundi and Burkina Faso to hold onto power
by by-passing the constitution raised eybrows and resulted in downgrades.
Political unrest in Libya and Algeria have contributed to a decision to marginally downgrade these
countries as well. Syria incurred a sharper downgrade due to the devolution into de facto civil war
and the dire security threat posed by Islamist terrorists. Iraq saw a similar downgrade as a result of
the takeover of wide swaths of territory and the threat of genocide at the hands of Islamist
terrorists. Yemen, likewise, has been downgraded due to political instability at the hands of
secessionists, terrorists, Houthi rebels, and the intervention of external parties. Conversely, Egypt
and Tunisia saw slight upgrades as their political environments stabilize.
At the low end of the spectrum, devolving security conditions and/or economic crisis have resulted
in countries like Pakistan, Afghanistan, Somalia, and Zimbabwe maintaining their low ratings.
The United States continues to retain its previous slight downgrade due to the enduring threat of
default surrounding the debt ceiling in that country, matched by a conflict-ridden political climate.
In the case of Mexico, there is limited concern about default, but increasing alarm over the security
situation in that country and the government’s ability to contain it. In Argentina, a default to bond
holders resulted in a downgrade to that country. Finally, a small but significant upgrade was
attributed to Cuba due to its recent pro-business reforms and its normalization of ties with the
Unitd States.
Source:
CountryWatch Inc. www.countrywatch.com
Updated:
2015
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
Transparency International: Corruption Perceptions Index
Editor's Note:
Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index is a composite index which ranks
countries in terms of the degree to which corruption is perceived to exist among public officials.
This index indicates the views of national and international business people and analysts about the
levels of corruption in each country. The highest (and best) level of transparency is indicated by
the number, 10. The lower (and worse) levels of transparency are indicated by lower numbers.
Rank
Country/Territory
CPI 2009
Score
Surveys
Used
Confidence
Range
1
New Zealand
9.4
6
9.1 - 9.5
2
Denmark
9.3
6
9.1 - 9.5
3
Singapore
9.2
9
9.0 - 9.4
3
Sweden
9.2
6
9.0 - 9.3
5
Switzerland
9.0
6
8.9 - 9.1
6
Finland
8.9
6
8.4 - 9.4
6
Netherlands
8.9
6
8.7 - 9.0
8
Australia
8.7
8
8.3 - 9.0
8
Canada
8.7
6
8.5 - 9.0
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
8
Iceland
8.7
4
7.5 - 9.4
11
Norway
8.6
6
8.2 - 9.1
12
Hong Kong
8.2
8
7.9 - 8.5
12
Luxembourg
8.2
6
7.6 - 8.8
14
Germany
8.0
6
7.7 - 8.3
14
Ireland
8.0
6
7.8 - 8.4
16
Austria
7.9
6
7.4 - 8.3
17
Japan
7.7
8
7.4 - 8.0
17
United Kingdom
7.7
6
7.3 - 8.2
19
United States
7.5
8
6.9 - 8.0
20
Barbados
7.4
4
6.6 - 8.2
21
Belgium
7.1
6
6.9 - 7.3
22
Qatar
7.0
6
5.8 - 8.1
22
Saint Lucia
7.0
3
6.7 - 7.5
24
France
6.9
6
6.5 - 7.3
25
Chile
6.7
7
6.5 - 6.9
25
Uruguay
6.7
5
6.4 - 7.1
27
Cyprus
6.6
4
6.1 - 7.1
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
27
Estonia
6.6
8
6.1 - 6.9
27
Slovenia
6.6
8
6.3 - 6.9
30
6.5
5
5.5 - 7.5
31
Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines
6.4
3
4.9 - 7.5
32
Israel
6.1
6
5.4 - 6.7
32
Spain
6.1
6
5.5 - 6.6
34
Dominica
5.9
3
4.9 - 6.7
35
Portugal
5.8
6
5.5 - 6.2
35
Puerto Rico
5.8
4
5.2 - 6.3
37
Botswana
5.6
6
5.1 - 6.3
37
Taiwan
5.6
9
5.4 - 5.9
39
Brunei Darussalam
5.5
4
4.7 - 6.4
39
Oman
5.5
5
4.4 - 6.5
39
Korea (South)
5.5
9
5.3 - 5.7
42
Mauritius
5.4
6
5.0 - 5.9
43
Costa Rica
5.3
5
4.7 - 5.9
43
Macau
5.3
3
3.3 - 6.9
45
Malta
5.2
4
4.0 - 6.2
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
46
Bahrain
5.1
5
4.2 - 5.8
46
Cape Verde
5.1
3
3.3 - 7.0
46
Hungary
5.1
8
4.6 - 5.7
49
Bhutan
5.0
4
4.3 - 5.6
49
Jordan
5.0
7
3.9 - 6.1
49
Poland
5.0
8
4.5 - 5.5
52
Czech Republic
4.9
8
4.3 - 5.6
52
Lithuania
4.9
8
4.4 - 5.4
54
Seychelles
4.8
3
3.0 - 6.7
55
South Africa
4.7
8
4.3 - 4.9
56
Latvia
4.5
6
4.1 - 4.9
56
Malaysia
4.5
9
4.0 - 5.1
56
Namibia
4.5
6
3.9 - 5.1
56
Samoa
4.5
3
3.3 - 5.3
56
Slovakia
4.5
8
4.1 - 4.9
61
Cuba
4.4
3
3.5 - 5.1
61
Turkey
4.4
7
3.9 - 4.9
63
Italy
4.3
6
3.8 - 4.9
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
63
Saudi Arabia
4.3
5
3.1 - 5.3
65
Tunisia
4.2
6
3.0 - 5.5
66
Croatia
4.1
8
3.7 - 4.5
66
Georgia
4.1
7
3.4 - 4.7
66
Kuwait
4.1
5
3.2 - 5.1
69
Ghana
3.9
7
3.2 - 4.6
69
Montenegro
3.9
5
3.5 - 4.4
71
Bulgaria
3.8
8
3.2 - 4.5
71
FYR Macedonia
3.8
6
3.4 - 4.2
71
Greece
3.8
6
3.2 - 4.3
71
Romania
3.8
8
3.2 - 4.3
75
Brazil
3.7
7
3.3 - 4.3
75
Colombia
3.7
7
3.1 - 4.3
75
Peru
3.7
7
3.4 - 4.1
75
Suriname
3.7
3
3.0 - 4.7
79
Burkina Faso
3.6
7
2.8 - 4.4
79
China
3.6
9
3.0 - 4.2
79
Swaziland
3.6
3
3.0 - 4.7
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
79
Trinidad and Tobago
3.6
4
3.0 - 4.3
83
Serbia
3.5
6
3.3 - 3.9
84
El Salvador
3.4
5
3.0 - 3.8
84
Guatemala
3.4
5
3.0 - 3.9
84
India
3.4
10
3.2 - 3.6
84
Panama
3.4
5
3.1 - 3.7
84
Thailand
3.4
9
3.0 - 3.8
89
Lesotho
3.3
6
2.8 - 3.8
89
Malawi
3.3
7
2.7 - 3.9
89
Mexico
3.3
7
3.2 - 3.5
89
Moldova
3.3
6
2.7 - 4.0
89
Morocco
3.3
6
2.8 - 3.9
89
Rwanda
3.3
4
2.9 - 3.7
95
Albania
3.2
6
3.0 - 3.3
95
Vanuatu
3.2
3
2.3 - 4.7
97
Liberia
3.1
3
1.9 - 3.8
97
Sri Lanka
3.1
7
2.8 - 3.4
99
Bosnia and Herzegovina
3.0
7
2.6 - 3.4
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
99
Dominican Republic
3.0
5
2.9 - 3.2
99
Jamaica
3.0
5
2.8 - 3.3
99
Madagascar
3.0
7
2.8 - 3.2
99
Senegal
3.0
7
2.5 - 3.6
99
Tonga
3.0
3
2.6 - 3.3
99
Zambia
3.0
7
2.8 - 3.2
106
Argentina
2.9
7
2.6 - 3.1
106
Benin
2.9
6
2.3 - 3.4
106
Gabon
2.9
3
2.6 - 3.1
106
Gambia
2.9
5
1.6 - 4.0
106
Niger
2.9
5
2.7 - 3.0
111
Algeria
2.8
6
2.5 - 3.1
111
Djibouti
2.8
4
2.3 - 3.2
111
Egypt
2.8
6
2.6 - 3.1
111
Indonesia
2.8
9
2.4 - 3.2
111
Kiribati
2.8
3
2.3 - 3.3
111
Mali
2.8
6
2.4 - 3.2
111
2.8
3
2.4 - 3.3
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
111
Solomon Islands
2.8
3
2.3 - 3.3
111
Togo
2.8
5
1.9 - 3.9
120
Armenia
2.7
7
2.6 - 2.8
120
Bolivia
2.7
6
2.4 - 3.1
120
Ethiopia
2.7
7
2.4 - 2.9
120
Kazakhstan
2.7
7
2.1 - 3.3
120
Mongolia
2.7
7
2.4 - 3.0
120
Vietnam
2.7
9
2.4 - 3.1
126
Eritrea
2.6
4
1.6 - 3.8
126
Guyana
2.6
4
2.5 - 2.7
126
Syria
2.6
5
2.2 - 2.9
126
Tanzania
2.6
7
2.4 - 2.9
130
Honduras
2.5
6
2.2 - 2.8
130
Lebanon
2.5
3
1.9 - 3.1
130
Libya
2.5
6
2.2 - 2.8
130
Maldives
2.5
4
1.8 - 3.2
130
Mauritania
2.5
7
2.0 - 3.3
130
Mozambique
2.5
7
2.3 - 2.8
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
130
Nicaragua
2.5
6
2.3 - 2.7
130
Nigeria
2.5
7
2.2 - 2.7
130
Uganda
2.5
7
2.1 - 2.8
139
Bangladesh
2.4
7
2.0 - 2.8
139
Belarus
2.4
4
2.0 - 2.8
139
Pakistan
2.4
7
2.1 - 2.7
139
Philippines
2.4
9
2.1 - 2.7
143
Azerbaijan
2.3
7
2.0 - 2.6
143
Comoros
2.3
3
1.6 - 3.3
143
Nepal
2.3
6
2.0 - 2.6
146
Cameroon
2.2
7
1.9 - 2.6
146
Ecuador
2.2
5
2.0 - 2.5
146
Kenya
2.2
7
1.9 - 2.5
146
Russia
2.2
8
1.9 - 2.4
146
Sierra Leone
2.2
5
1.9 - 2.4
146
Timor-Leste
2.2
5
1.8 - 2.6
146
Ukraine
2.2
8
2.0 - 2.6
146
Zimbabwe
2.2
7
1.7 - 2.8
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
154
Côte d´Ivoire
2.1
7
1.8 - 2.4
154
Papua New Guinea
2.1
5
1.7 - 2.5
154
Paraguay
2.1
5
1.7 - 2.5
154
Yemen
2.1
4
1.6 - 2.5
158
Cambodia
2.0
8
1.8 - 2.2
158
2.0
4
1.9 - 2.2
158
Laos
2.0
4
1.6 - 2.6
158
Tajikistan
2.0
8
1.6 - 2.5
162
Angola
1.9
5
1.8 - 1.9
162
Congo Brazzaville
1.9
5
1.6 - 2.1
162
Democratic Republic of
Congo
1.9
5
1.7 - 2.1
162
Guinea-Bissau
1.9
3
1.8 - 2.0
162
Kyrgyzstan
1.9
7
1.8 - 2.1
162
Venezuela
1.9
7
1.8 - 2.0
168
Burundi
1.8
6
1.6 - 2.0
168
Equatorial Guinea
1.8
3
1.6 - 1.9
168
Guinea
1.8
5
1.7 - 1.8
168
Haiti
1.8
3
1.4 - 2.3
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
168
Iran
1.8
3
1.7 - 1.9
168
Turkmenistan
1.8
4
1.7 - 1.9
174
Uzbekistan
1.7
6
1.5 - 1.8
175
Chad
1.6
6
1.5 - 1.7
176
Iraq
1.5
3
1.2 - 1.8
176
Sudan
1.5
5
1.4 - 1.7
178
Myanmar
1.4
3
0.9 - 1.8
179
Afghanistan
1.3
4
1.0 - 1.5
180
Somalia
1.1
3
0.9 - 1.4
Methodology:
As noted above, the highest (and best) level of transparency with the least perceived corruption is
indicated by the number, 10. The lower (and worse) levels of transparency are indicated by lower
numbers.
According to Transparency International, the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) table shows a
country's ranking and score, the number of surveys used to determine the score, and the
confidence range of the scoring.
The rank shows how one country compares to others included in the index. The CPI score
indicates the perceived level of public-sector corruption in a country/territory.
The CPI is based on 13 independent surveys. However, not all surveys include all countries. The
surveys used column indicates how many surveys were relied upon to determine the score for that
country.
The confidence range indicates the reliability of the CPI scores and tells us that allowing for a
margin of error, we can be 90% confident that the true score for this country lies within this range.
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
Note:
Kosovo, which separated from the Yugoslav successor state of Serbia, is not listed above. No
calculation is available for Kosovo at this time, however, a future corruption index by
Transparency International may include the world's newest country in its tally. Taiwan has been
listed above despite its contested status; while Taiwan claims sovereign status, China claims
ultimate jurisdiction over Taiwan. Hong Kong, which is also under the rubric of Chinese
sovereignty, is listed above. Note as well that Puerto Rico, which is a United States domain, is also
included in the list above. These inclusions likely have to do with the size and fairly autonomous
status of their economies.
Source:
Transparency International's Corruption Perception Index; available at URL:
http://www.transparency.org
Updated:
Uploaded in 2011 using most recent ranking available; reviewed in 2015.
Editor's Note:
The Global Competitiveness Report’s competitiveness ranking is based on the Global
Competitiveness Index (GCI), which was developed for the World Economic Forum. The GCI is
based on a number of competitiveness considerations, and provides a comprehensive picture of the
competitiveness landscape in countries around the world. The competitiveness considerations are:
institutions, infrastructure, macroeconomic environment, health and primary education, higher
education and training, goods market efficiency, labour market efficiency, financial market
development, technological readiness, market size, business sophistication, and innovation. The
rankings are calculated from both publicly available data and the Executive Opinion Survey.
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
Country/Economy
GCI 2010
Rank
GCI 2010
Score
GCI 2009
Rank
Change
2009-2010
Switzerland
1
5.63
1
0
Sweden
2
5.56
4
2
Singapore
3
5.48
3
0
United States
4
5.43
2
-2
Germany
5
5.39
7
2
Japan
6
5.37
8
2
Finland
7
5.37
6
-1
Netherlands
8
5.33
10
2
Denmark
9
5.32
5
-4
Canada
10
5.30
9
-1
Hong Kong SAR
11
5.30
11
0
United Kingdom
12
5.25
13
1
Taiwan, China
13
5.21
12
-1
Norway
14
5.14
14
0
France
15
5.13
16
1
Australia
16
5.11
15
-1
Qatar
17
5.10
22
5
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
Austria
18
5.09
17
-1
Belgium
19
5.07
18
-1
Luxembourg
20
5.05
21
1
Saudi Arabia
21
4.95
28
7
Korea, Rep.
22
4.93
19
-3
New Zealand
23
4.92
20
-3
Israel
24
4.91
27
3
25
4.89
23
-2
Malaysia
26
4.88
24
-2
China
27
4.84
29
2
Brunei Darussalam
28
4.75
32
4
Ireland
29
4.74
25
-4
Chile
30
4.69
30
0
Iceland
31
4.68
26
-5
Tunisia
32
4.65
40
8
Estonia
33
4.61
35
2
Oman
34
4.61
41
7
Kuwait
35
4.59
39
4
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
Czech Republic
36
4.57
31
-5
Bahrain
37
4.54
38
1
Thailand
38
4.51
36
-2
Poland
39
4.51
46
7
Cyprus
40
4.50
34
-6
Puerto Rico
41
4.49
42
1
Spain
42
4.49
33
-9
Barbados
43
4.45
44
1
Indonesia
44
4.43
54
10
Slovenia
45
4.42
37
-8
Portugal
46
4.38
43
-3
Lithuania
47
4.38
53
6
Italy
48
4.37
48
0
Montenegro
49
4.36
62
13
Malta
50
4.34
52
2
India
51
4.33
49
-2
Hungary
52
4.33
58
6
Panama
53
4.33
59
6
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
South Africa
54
4.32
45
-9
Mauritius
55
4.32
57
2
Costa Rica
56
4.31
55
-1
Azerbaijan
57
4.29
51
-6
Brazil
58
4.28
56
-2
Vietnam
59
4.27
75
16
Slovak Republic
60
4.25
47
-13
Turkey
61
4.25
61
0
Sri Lanka
62
4.25
79
17
Russian Federation
63
4.24
63
0
Uruguay
64
4.23
65
1
Jordan
65
4.21
50
-15
Mexico
66
4.19
60
-6
Romania
67
4.16
64
-3
Colombia
68
4.14
69
1
Iran
69
4.14
n/a
n/a
Latvia
70
4.14
68
-2
Bulgaria
71
4.13
76
5
Kazakhstan
72
4.12
67
-5
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
Kazakhstan
72
4.12
67
-5
Peru
73
4.11
78
5
Namibia
74
4.09
74
0
Morocco
75
4.08
73
-2
Botswana
76
4.05
66
-10
Croatia
77
4.04
72
-5
Guatemala
78
4.04
80
2
Macedonia, FYR
79
4.02
84
5
Rwanda
80
4.00
n/a
n/a
Egypt
81
4.00
70
-11
El Salvador
82
3.99
77
-5
Greece
83
3.99
71
-12
Trinidad and Tobago
84
3.97
86
2
Philippines
85
3.96
87
2
Algeria
86
3.96
83
-3
Argentina
87
3.95
85
-2
Albania
88
3.94
96
8
Ukraine
89
3.90
82
-7
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
Gambia, The
90
3.90
81
-9
Honduras
91
3.89
89
-2
Lebanon
92
3.89
n/a
n/a
Georgia
93
3.86
90
-3
Moldova
94
3.86
n/a
n/a
Jamaica
95
3.85
91
-4
Serbia
96
3.84
93
-3
Syria
97
3.79
94
-3
Armenia
98
3.76
97
-1
Mongolia
99
3.75
117
18
Libya
100
3.74
88
-12
Dominican Republic
101
3.72
95
-6
102
3.70
109
7
Benin
103
3.69
103
0
Senegal
104
3.67
92
-12
Ecuador
105
3.65
105
0
Kenya
106
3.65
98
-8
Bangladesh
107
3.64
106
-1
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
Bolivia
108
3.64
120
12
Cambodia
109
3.63
110
1
Guyana
110
3.62
104
-6
Cameroon
111
3.58
111
0
Nicaragua
112
3.57
115
3
Tanzania
113
3.56
100
-13
Ghana
114
3.56
114
0
Zambia
115
3.55
112
-3
Tajikistan
116
3.53
122
6
Cape Verde
117
3.51
n/a
n/a
Uganda
118
3.51
108
-10
Ethiopia
119
3.51
118
-1
Paraguay
120
3.49
124
4
Kyrgyz Republic
121
3.49
123
2
Venezuela
122
3.48
113
-9
Pakistan
123
3.48
101
-22
Madagascar
124
3.46
121
-3
Malawi
125
3.45
119
-6
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
Swaziland
126
3.40
n/a
n/a
Nigeria
127
3.38
99
-28
Lesotho
128
3.36
107
-21
Côte d'Ivoire
129
3.35
116
-13
Nepal
130
3.34
125
-5
Mozambique
131
3.32
129
-2
Mali
132
3.28
130
-2
Timor-Leste
133
3.23
126
-7
Burkina Faso
134
3.20
128
-6
Mauritania
135
3.14
127
-8
Zimbabwe
136
3.03
132
-4
Burundi
137
2.96
133
-4
Angola
138
2.93
n/a
n/a
Chad
139
2.73
131
-8
Methodology:
The competitiveness rankings are calculated from both publicly available data and the Executive
Opinion Survey, a comprehensive annual survey conducted by the World Economic Forum
together with its network of Partner Institutes (leading research institutes and business
organizations) in the countries covered by the Report.
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
Highlights according to WEF -- The United States falls two places to fourth position, overtaken by Sweden and Singapore in the
rankings of the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report 2010-2011
- The People’s Republic of China continues to move up the rankings, with marked improvements
in several other Asian countries
- Germany moves up two places to fifth place, leading the Eurozone countries
- Switzerland tops the rankings
Source:
World Economic Forum; available at URL: http://www.weforum.org
Updated:
2011 using most recent ranking available; reviewed in 2015.
Taxation
There is currently no information on taxation in Somalia available.
Stock Market
There is no stock market in Somalia.
Partner Links
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
Partner Links
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
Chapter 5
Social Overview
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
People
Demography
Somalis have a remarkably homogeneous culture and identity. As early as the 7th century C.E.,
indigenous Cushitic peoples began to mingle with Arab and Persian traders who had settled along
the coast. Interaction over the centuries led to the emergence of a Somali culture bound by
common traditions, a single language and the Islamic faith.
Today, about 60 percent of all Somalis are nomadic or semi-nomadic pastoralists who raise cattle,
camels, sheep and goats. About 25 percent of the population are settled farmers who live mainly in
the fertile agricultural zone between the Juba and Shebelle Rivers in southern Somalia.
There are a number of smaller ethnic groups of Bantu origin and a modest Arab population. Nearly
all inhabitants speak the Somali language, which remained unwritten until October 1973, when the
Supreme Revolutionary Council (SRC) proclaimed it the nation's official language and decreed an
orthography using Latin letters. Somali is the language of instruction in all schools. Maay is spoken
by approximately 11 percent of the population. English is spoken by the well educated in the south
and Italian is spoken by the well educated in the north. Arabic is spoken by few people but used
widely in prayer.
Cultural Legacy
A paucity of written historical evidence forces the study of early Somalia to depend on the findings
of archaeology, anthropology, historical linguistics and related disciplines. Such evidence has
provided insights that in some cases have refuted conventional explanations of the origins and
evolution of the Somali people. For example, historians once believed that the Somalis originated
on the Red Sea's western coast, or perhaps in southern Arabia, but it now seems clear that the
ancestral homeland of the Somalis, together with affiliated Cushite peoples, was in the highlands of
southern Ethiopia, specifically in the lake regions. Similarly, the once-common notion that
migration and settlement by early Muslims, followers of the Prophet Muhammad, along the Somali
coast in the early centuries of Islam had a significant impact on the Somalis no longer enjoys much
academic support. Scholars now recognize that the Arab factor-except for the Somalis' conversion
to Islam-is marginal to understanding the Somali past. Furthermore, conventional wisdom once
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
held that Somali migrations followed a north-to-south route; the reverse of this now appears to be
nearer the truth.
Increasingly, evidence places the Somalis within a wide family of peoples called Eastern Cushites
by modern linguists and described earlier in some instances as Hamites. From a broader culturallinguistic perspective, the Cushite family belongs to a vast stock of languages and peoples
considered Afro-Asiatic. Afro-Asiatic languages include Cushitic (principally Somali, Oromo and
Afar), the Hausa language of Nigeria, and the Semitic languages of Arabic, Hebrew and Amharic.
Medieval Arabs referred to the Eastern Cushites as the Berberi.
In addition to the Somalis, the Cushites include the largely nomadic Afar (Danakil), who straddle
the Great Rift Valley between Ethiopia and Djibouti; the Oromo, who have played a large role in
Ethiopian history (in the 1990s constituting about half of the Ethiopian population) and were also
numerous in northern Kenya; the Reendille (Rendilli) of Kenya; and the Aweera (Boni) along the
Lamu coast in Kenya. The Somalis belong to a sub-branch of the Cushites, the Omo-Tana group,
whose languages are almost mutually intelligible. The original home of the Omo-Tana group
appears to have been on the Omo and Tana rivers, in an area extending from Lake Turkana in
present-day northern Kenya to the Indian Ocean coast.
The Somalis form a subgroup of the Omo-Tana called Sam. Having split from the main stream of
Cushite peoples about the first half of the first millennium B.C.E., the proto-Sam appear to have
spread to the grazing plains of northern Kenya. Establishment of proto-Sam communities seems to
have followed the Tana River, and reached the Indian Ocean coast well before the first century
C.E. On the coast, the proto-Sam splintered further; one group (the Boni) remained on the Lamu
Archipelago, and the other moved northward to populate southern Somalia. There the group's
members eventually developed a mixed economy based on farming and animal husbandry, a mode
of life still common in southern Somalia. Members of the proto-Sam who came to occupy the
Somali Peninsula were called Samaale, or Somaal, a clear reference to the mythical father figure of
the main Somali clan-families. This name gave rise to the term 'somali."
Health and Welfare
In terms of health and welfare, of the 12 million people in Somalia, life expectancy is 49 years of
age. The infant mortality rate is 110.97 deaths per 1000 live births. The average literacy rate for
the total population is 37.8 percent but belies the disparity across genders. For males, literacy is
almost 50 percent; among females, it is just over 25 percent.
The degree of risk of infectious diseases in this country is high. Food or waterborne diseases
include bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever; vectorborne diseases
include dengue fever, malaria, and Rift Valley fever; water contact diseases include schistosomiasis;
animal contact diseases include rabies.
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
Written by Dr. Denise Youngblood Coleman, Editor in Chief at CountryWatch.com; see
Bibliography for research sources.
Human Development Index (Ranked Numerically)
The Human Development Index (HDI) is used to measure quality of life in countries across the
world. The HDI has been compiled since 1990 by the United Nations Development Programme
(UNDP) on a regular basis. The HDI is a composite of several indicators, which measure a
country's achievements in three main arenas of human development: longevity, education, and
economic standard of living. Although the concept of human development is complicated and
cannot be properly captured by values and indices, the HDI offers a wide-ranging assessment of
human development in certain countries, not based solely upon traditional economic and financial
indicators. For more information about the methodology used to calculate the HDI, please see the
"Source Materials" in the appendices of this review.
Very High
Human
Development
High Human
Development
Medium Human
Development
Low Human
Development
1. Norway
43. Bahamas
86. Fiji
128. Kenya
2. Australia
44. Lithuania
87. Turkmenistan
129. Bangladesh
3. New Zealand
45. Chile
88. Dominican
Republic
130. Ghana
4. United States
46. Argentina
89. China
131. Cameroon
90. El Salvador
132. Myanmar
(Burma)
5. Ireland
Somalia Review 2016
47. Kuwait
Somalia
6. Liechtenstein
48. Latvia
91. Sri Lanka
133. Yemen
7. Netherlands
49. Montenegro
92. Thailand
134. Benin
8. Canada
50. Romania
93. Gabon
135.
Madagascar
9. Sweden
51. Croatia
94. Surname
136. Mauritania
10. Germany
52. Uruguay
95. Bolivia
137. Papua
New Guinea
11. Japan
53. Libya
96. Paraguay
138. Nepal
12. South Korea
54. Panama
97. Philippines
139. Togo
13. Switzerland
55. Saudi Arabia
98. Botswana
140. Comoros
14. France
56. Mexico
99. Moldova
141. Lesotho
15. Israel
57. Malaysia
100. Mongolia
142. Nigeria
16. Finland
58. Bulgaria
101. Egypt
143. Uganda
17. Iceland
59. Trinidad and Tobago
102. Uzbekistan
144. Senegal
18. Belgium
60. Serbia
103. Micronesia
145. Haiti
19. Denmark
61. Belarus
104. Guyana
146. Angola
20. Spain
62. Costa Rica
105. Namibia
147. Djibouti
21. Hong King
63. Peru
106. Honduras
148. Tanzania
107. Maldives
149. Cote
d'Ivoire
22. Greece
Somalia Review 2016
64. Albania
Somalia
23. Italy
65. Russian Federation
108. Indonesia
150. Zambia
24. Luxembourg
66. Kazakhstan
109. Kyrgyzstan
151. Gambia
25. Austria
67. Azerbaijan
110. South Africa
152. Rwanda
26. United
Kingdom
68. Bosnia and
Herzegovina
111. Syria
153. Malawi
27. Singapore
69. Ukraine
112. Tajikistan
154. Sudan
28. Czech
Republic
70. Iran
113. Vietnam
155.
Afghanistan
29. Slovenia
71. The former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia
114. Morocco
156. Guinea
30. Andorra
72. Mauritius
115. Nicaragua
157. Ethiopia
116. Guatemala
158. Sierra
Leone
31. Slovakia
73. Brazil
32. United Arab
Emirates
74. Georgia
117. Equatorial
Guinea
159. Central
African
Republic
33. Malta
75. Venezuela
118. Cape Verde
160. Mali
34. Estonia
76. Armenia
119. India
161. Burkina
Faso
35. Cyprus
77. Ecuador
120. East Timor
162. Liberia
36. Hungary
78. Belize
121. Swaziland
163. Chad
37. Brunei
79. Colombia
122. Laos
164. GuineaBissau
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
38. Qatar
80. Jamaica
123. Solomon
Islands
39. Bahrain
81. Tunisia
124. Cambodia
166. Burundi
40. Portugal
82. Jordan
125. Pakistan
167. Niger
83. Turkey
126. Congo RC
168. Congo
DRC
84. Algeria
127. Sao Tome
and Principe
169. Zimbabwe
41. Poland
42. Barbados
165.
Mozambique
85. Tonga
Methodology:
For more information about the methodology used to calculate the HDI, please see the "Source
Materials" in the appendices of this Country Review.
Reference:
As published in United Nations Development Programme's Human Development Report 2010.
Source:
United Nations Development Programme's Human Development Index available at URL:
http://hdr.undp.org/en/statistics/
Updated:
Uploaded in 2011 using ranking available; reviewed in 2015
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
Created by Adrian G. White, an Analytic Social Psychologist at the University of Leicester, the
"Satisfaction with Life Index" measures subjective life satisfaction across various countries. The
data was taken from a metastudy (see below for source) and associates the notion of subjective
happiness or life satisfaction with qualitative parameters such as health, wealth, and access to
basic education. This assessment serves as an alternative to other measures of happiness that tend
to rely on traditional and quantitative measures of policy on quality of life, such as GNP and GDP.
The methodology involved the responses of 80,000 people across the globe.
Rank
Country
Score
1
Denmark
273.4
2
Switzerland
273.33
3
Austria
260
4
Iceland
260
5
The Bahamas
256.67
6
Finland
256.67
7
Sweden
256.67
8
Iran
253.33
9
Brunei
253.33
10
Canada
253.33
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
11
Ireland
253.33
12
Luxembourg
253.33
13
Costa Rica
250
14
Malta
250
15
Netherlands
250
16
Antiguaand Barbuda
246.67
17
Malaysia
246.67
18
New Zealand
246.67
19
Norway
246.67
20
Seychelles
246.67
21
246.67
22
246.67
23
United States
246.67
24
Vanuatu
246.67
25
Venezuela
246.67
26
Australia
243.33
27
Barbados
243.33
28
Belgium
243.33
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
29
Dominica
243.33
30
Oman
243.33
31
Saudi Arabia
243.33
32
Suriname
243.33
33
Bahrain
240
34
Colombia
240
35
Germany
240
36
Guyana
240
37
Honduras
240
38
Kuwait
240
39
Panama
240
40
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
240
41
United Kingdom
236.67
42
Dominican Republic
233.33
43
Guatemala
233.33
44
Jamaica
233.33
45
Qatar
233.33
46
Spain
233.33
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
47
Saint Lucia
233.33
48
Belize
230
49
Cyprus
230
50
Italy
230
51
Mexico
230
52
Samoa
230
53
Singapore
230
54
Solomon Islands
230
55
Trinidad and Tobago
230
56
Argentina
226.67
57
Fiji
223.33
58
Israel
223.33
59
Mongolia
223.33
60
São Tomé and Príncipe
223.33
61
El Salvador
220
62
France
220
63
Hong Kong
220
64
Indonesia
220
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
65
Kyrgyzstan
220
66
Maldives
220
67
Slovenia
220
68
Taiwan
220
69
East Timor
220
70
Tonga
220
71
Chile
216.67
72
Grenada
216.67
73
Mauritius
216.67
74
Namibia
216.67
75
Paraguay
216.67
76
Thailand
216.67
77
Czech Republic
213.33
78
Philippines
213.33
79
Tunisia
213.33
80
Uzbekistan
213.33
81
Brazil
210
82
China
210
83
Cuba
210
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
83
Cuba
210
84
Greece
210
85
Nicaragua
210
86
Papua New Guinea
210
87
Uruguay
210
88
Gabon
206.67
89
Ghana
206.67
90
Japan
206.67
91
Yemen
206.67
92
Portugal
203.33
93
Sri Lanka
203.33
94
Tajikistan
203.33
95
Vietnam
203.33
96
Bhutan
200
97
Comoros
196.67
98
Croatia
196.67
99
Poland
196.67
100
Cape Verde
193.33
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
101
Kazakhstan
193.33
102
South Korea
193.33
103
Madagascar
193.33
104
Bangladesh
190
105
Republic of the Congo
190
106
The Gambia
190
107
Hungary
190
108
Libya
190
109
South Africa
190
110
Cambodia
186.67
111
Ecuador
186.67
112
Kenya
186.67
113
Lebanon
186.67
114
Morocco
186.67
115
Peru
186.67
116
Senegal
186.67
117
Bolivia
183.33
118
Haiti
183.33
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
119
Nepal
183.33
120
Nigeria
183.33
121
Tanzania
183.33
122
Benin
180
123
Botswana
180
124
Guinea-Bissau
180
125
India
180
126
Laos
180
127
Mozambique
180
128
Palestinian Authority
180
129
Slovakia
180
130
Myanmar
176.67
131
Mali
176.67
132
Mauritania
176.67
133
Turkey
176.67
134
Algeria
173.33
135
Equatorial Guinea
173.33
136
Romania
173.33
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
137
170
138
Cameroon
170
139
Estonia
170
140
Guinea
170
141
Jordan
170
142
Syria
170
143
Sierra Leone
166.67
144
Azerbaijan
163.33
145
163.33
146
Republic of Macedonia
163.33
147
Togo
163.33
148
Zambia
163.33
149
Angola
160
150
Djibouti
160
151
Egypt
160
152
Burkina Faso
156.67
153
Ethiopia
156.67
154
Latvia
156.67
155
Lithuania
156.67
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
155
Lithuania
156.67
156
Uganda
156.67
157
Albania
153.33
158
Malawi
153.33
159
Chad
150
160
Côte d'Ivoire
150
161
Niger
150
162
Eritrea
146.67
163
Rwanda
146.67
164
Bulgaria
143.33
165
Lesotho
143.33
166
Pakistan
143.33
167
Russia
143.33
168
Swaziland
140
169
Georgia
136.67
170
Belarus
133.33
171
Turkmenistan
133.33
172
Armenia
123.33
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
173
Sudan
120
174
Ukraine
120
175
Moldova
116.67
176
Democratic Republic of the Congo
110
177
Zimbabwe
110
178
Burundi
100
Commentary:
European countries, such as Denmark, Iceland, Finland, Sweden, Switzerland, Austria resided at
the top of the ranking with highest levels of self-reported life satisfaction. Conversely, European
countries such as Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Belarus and Ukraine ranked low on the index.
African countries such as Democratic Republic of Congo, Zimbabwe a n d Burundi found
themselves at the very bottom of the ranking, and indeed, very few African countries could be
found in the top 100. Japan was at the mid-way point in the ranking, however, other Asian
countries such as Brunei and Malaysia were in the top tier, while Pakistan was close to the bottom
with a low level of self-identified life satisfaction. As a region, the Middle East presented a mixed
bad with Saudi Arabians reporing healthy levels of life satisfaction and Egyptians near the bottom
of the ranking. As a region, Caribbean countries were ranked highly, consistently demonstrating
high levels of life satisfaction. The findings showed that health was the most crucial determining
factor in life satisfaction, followed by prosperity and education.
Source:
White, A. (2007). A Global Projection of Subjective Well-being: A Challenge To Positive
Psychology? Psychtalk 56, 17-20. The data was extracted from a meta-analysis by Marks,
Abdallah, Simms & Thompson (2006).
Uploaded:
Based on study noted above in "Source" ; reviewed in 2015
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
Happy Planet Index
Happy Planet Index
The Happy Planet Index (HPI) is used to measure human well-being in conjunction with
environmental impact. The HPI has been compiled since 2006 by the New Economics
Foundation. The index is a composite of several indicators including subjective life satisfaction, life
expectancy at birth, and ecological footprint per capita.
As noted by NEFA, the HPI "reveals the ecological efficiency with which human well-being is
delivered." Indeed, the index combines environmental impact with human well-being to measure
the environmental efficiency with which, country by country, people live long and happy lives.
The countries ranked highest by the HPI are not necessarily the ones with the happiest people
overall, but the ones that allow their citizens to live long and fulfilling lives, without negatively
impacting this opportunity for either future generations or citizens of other countries. Accordingly,
a country like the United States will rank low on this list due to its large per capital ecological
footprint, which uses more than its fair share of resources, and will likely cause planetary damage.
It should be noted that the HPI was designed to be a counterpoint to other well-established indices
of countries' development, such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which measures overall
national wealth and economic development, but often obfuscates the realities of countries with
stark variances between the rich and the poor. Moreover, the objective of most of the world's
people is not to be wealthy but to be happy. The HPI also differs from the Human Development
Index (HDI), which measures quality of life but not ecology, since it [HPI] also includes
sustainability as a key indicator.
Rank
Country
HPI
1
Costa Rica
76.1
2
Dominican Republic
71.8
3
Jamaica
70.1
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
4
Guatemala
68.4
5
Vietnam
66.5
6
Colombia
66.1
7
Cuba
65.7
8
El Salvador
61.5
9
Brazil
61.0
10
Honduras
61.0
11
Nicaragua
60.5
12
Egypt
60.3
13
Saudi Arabia
59.7
14
Philippines
59.0
15
Argentina
59.0
16
Indonesia
58.9
17
Bhutan
58.5
18
Panama
57.4
19
Laos
57.3
20
China
57.1
21
Morocco
56.8
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
22
Sri Lanka
56.5
23
Mexico
55.6
24
Pakistan
55.6
25
Ecuador
55.5
26
Jordan
54.6
27
Belize
54.5
28
Peru
54.4
29
Tunisia
54.3
30
Trinidad and Tobago
54.2
31
Bangladesh
54.1
32
Moldova
54.1
33
Malaysia
54.0
34
Tajikistan
53.5
35
India
53.0
36
Venezuela
52.5
37
Nepal
51.9
38
Syria
51.3
39
Burma
51.2
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
40
Algeria
51.2
41
Thailand
50.9
42
Haiti
50.8
43
Netherlands
50.6
44
Malta
50.4
45
Uzbekistan
50.1
46
Chile
49.7
47
Bolivia
49.3
48
Armenia
48.3
49
Singapore
48.2
50
Yemen
48.1
51
Germany
48.1
52
Switzerland
48.1
53
Sweden
48.0
54
Albania
47.9
55
Paraguay
47.8
56
Palestinian Authority
47.7
57
Austria
47.7
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
58
Serbia
47.6
59
Finland
47.2
60
Croatia
47.2
61
Kyrgyzstan
47.1
62
Cyprus
46.2
63
Guyana
45.6
64
Belgium
45.4
65
45.0
66
Slovenia
44.5
67
Israel
44.5
68
South Korea
44.4
69
Italy
44.0
70
Romania
43.9
71
France
43.9
72
Georgia
43.6
73
Slovakia
43.5
74
United Kingdom
43.3
75
Japan
43.3
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
76
Spain
43.2
77
Poland
42.8
78
Ireland
42.6
79
Iraq
42.6
80
Cambodia
42.3
81
Iran
42.1
82
Bulgaria
42.0
83
Turkey
41.7
84
Hong Kong
41.6
85
Azerbaijan
41.2
86
Lithuania
40.9
87
Djibouti
40.4
88
Norway
40.4
89
Canada
39.4
90
Hungary
38.9
91
Kazakhstan
38.5
92
Czech Republic
38.3
93
Mauritania
38.2
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
94
Iceland
38.1
95
Ukraine
38.1
96
Senegal
38.0
97
Greece
37.6
98
Portugal
37.5
99
Uruguay
37.2
100
Ghana
37.1
101
Latvia
36.7
102
Australia
36.6
103
New Zealand
36.2
104
Belarus
35.7
105
Denmark
35.5
106
Mongolia
35.0
107
Malawi
34.5
108
Russia
34.5
109
Chad
34.3
110
Lebanon
33.6
111
Macedonia
32.7
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
112
Republic of the Congo
32.4
113
Madagascar
31.5
114
United States
30.7
115
Nigeria
30.3
116
Guinea
30.3
117
Uganda
30.2
118
South Africa
29.7
119
Rwanda
29.6
120
Democratic Republic of the Congo
29.0
121
Sudan
28.5
122
Luxembourg
28.5
123
28.2
124
Ethiopia
28.1
125
Kenya
27.8
126
Cameroon
27.2
127
Zambia
27.2
128
Kuwait
27.0
129
Niger
26.9
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
130
Angola
26.8
131
Estonia
26.4
132
Mali
25.8
133
Mozambique
24.6
134
Benin
24.6
135
Togo
23.3
136
Sierra Leone
23.1
137
22.9
138
Burkina Faso
22.4
139
Burundi
21.8
140
Namibia
21.1
141
Botswana
20.9
142
Tanzania
17.8
143
Zimbabwe
16.6
Source: This material is derived from the Happy Planet Index issued by the New Economics
Foundation (NEF).
Methodology: T h e m e t h o d o l o g y f o r t h e c a l c u l a t i o n s c a n b e f o u n d a t U R L :
http://www.happyplanetindex.org/
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
Status of Women
Overview
Civil war and the lack of a central government have negatively impacted all of Somalia’s citizens,
however, women are most acutely affected. Indeed, women are frequent targets of war-related
violence, including kidnappings, sexual assault and rape. Domestic violence, hunger, rampant
poverty and increasing levels of disease are also issues that women must contend with on a daily
basis.
Males continually denigrate women at home and in the work place. While women currently
compromise over 40 percent of the workforce, financial compensation is often not enough to
sustain one person, let alone a family. Many women turn to prostitution in order to survive
financially.
Women are not equal to men in the eyes of the law and, therefore, they suffer societal
consequences. Although laws prohibiting rape exist, they are not enforced. Rape and gang rapes
occur most often against women in refugee camps. Police, militia, and youth gangs are known
offenders of such crimes. Acts of sexual violence continue to contribute to the increasing spread of
HIV/AIDS in the region.
Gender Related Development Index (GDI) Rank:
Not Ranked
Gender Empowerment Measure (GEM) Rank:
Not Ranked
Female Population:
5.4 million
Female Life Expectancy at birth:
50 years
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
Total Fertility Rate:
7.1
Maternal Mortality Ratio:
1,100
Total Number of Women Living with HIV/AIDS:
11,000-45,000
Ever Married Women, Ages 15-19 (%):
N/A
Mean Age at Time of Marriage:
N/A
Contraceptive Use Among Married Women, Any Method (%):
8%
Female Adult Literacy Rate:
25%
Combined Female Gross enrollment ratio for Primary, Secondary and Tertiary schools:
N/A
Female-Headed Households (%):
N/A
Economically Active Females (%):
N/A
Female Contributing Family Workers (%):
N/A
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
Female Estimated Earned Income:
N/A
Seats in Parliament held by women (%):
Lower or Single House: N/A
Upper House or Senate: N/A
Year Women Received the Right to Vote:
1956
Year Women Received the Right to Stand for Election:
N/A
*The Gender Development Index (GDI) is a composite index which measures the average
achievement in a country. While very similar to the Human Development Index in its use of the
same variables, the GDI adjusts the average achievement of each country in terms of life
expectancy, enrollment in schools, income, and literacy in accordance to the disparities between
males and females.
*The Gender Empowerment Measure (GEM) is a composite index measuring gender inequality in
three of the basic dimensions of empowerment; economic participation and decision-making,
political participation and decision-making, and power over economic resources.
*Total Fertility Rate (TFR) is defined as the average number of babies born to women during their
reproductive years. A TFR of 2.1 is considered the replacement rate; once a TFR of a population
reaches 2.1 the population will remain stable assuming no immigration or emigration takes place.
When the TFR is greater than 2.1 a population will increase and when it is less than 2.1 a
population will eventually decrease, although due to the age structure of a population it will take
years before a low TFR is translated into lower population.
*Maternal Mortality Rate is the number of deaths to women per 100,000 live births that resulted
from conditions related to pregnancy and or delivery related complications.
*Economically Active Females are the share of the female population, ages 15 and above, whom
supply, or are able to supply, labor for the production of goods and services.
*Female Contributing Family Workers are those females who work without pay in an economic
enterprise operated by a relative living in the same household.
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
*Estimated Earned Income is measured according to Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) in US
dollars.
Editor's Note:
The Global Gender Gap Index by the World Economic Forum ranks most of the world’s countries
in terms of the division of resources and opportunities among males and females. Specifically, the
ranking assesses the gender inequality gap in these four arenas:
1. Economic participation and opportunity (salaries and high skilled employment participation
levels)
2. Educational attainment (access to basic and higher level education)
3. Political empowerment (representation in decision-making structures)
4. Health and survival (life expectancy and sex ratio)
2010
rank
2010
score
2010
rank
among
2009
countries
Iceland
1
0.8496
1
1
0.8276
4
0.7999
4
Norway
2
0.8404
2
3
0.8227
1
0.8239
2
Finland
3
0.8260
3
2
0.8252
2
0.8195
3
2009
rank
2009
score
2008
rank
2008
score
2007
rank
Country
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
Sweden
4
0.8024
4
4
0.8139
3
0.8139
1
New
Zealand
5
0.7808
5
5
0.7880
5
0.7859
5
Ireland
6
0.7773
6
8
0.7597
8
0.7518
9
Denmark
7
0.7719
7
7
0.7628
7
0.7538
8
Lesotho
8
0.7678
8
10
0.7495
16
0.7320
26
Philippines
9
0.7654
9
9
0.7579
6
0.7568
6
Switzerland
10
0.7562
10
13
0.7426
14
0.7360
40
Spain
11
0.7554
11
17
0.7345
17
0.7281
10
South Africa
12
0.7535
12
6
0.7709
22
0.7232
20
Germany
13
0.7530
13
12
0.7449
11
0.7394
7
Belgium
14
0.7509
14
33
0.7165
28
0.7163
19
United
Kingdom
15
0.7460
15
15
0.7402
13
0.7366
11
Sri Lanka
16
0.7458
16
16
0.7402
12
0.7371
15
Netherlands
17
0.7444
17
11
0.7490
9
0.7399
12
Latvia
18
0.7429
18
14
0.7416
10
0.7397
13
United
States
19
0.7411
19
31
0.7173
27
0.7179
31
Canada
20
0.7372
20
25
0.7196
31
0.7136
18
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
Trinidad and
Tobago
21
0.7353
21
19
0.7298
19
0.7245
46
Mozambique
22
0.7329
22
26
0.7195
18
0.7266
43
Australia
23
0.7271
23
20
0.7282
21
0.7241
17
Cuba
24
0.7253
24
29
0.7176
25
0.7195
22
Namibia
25
0.7238
25
32
0.7167
30
0.7141
29
Luxembourg
26
0.7231
26
63
0.6889
66
0.6802
58
Mongolia
27
0.7194
27
22
0.7221
40
0.7049
62
Costa Rica
28
0.7194
28
27
0.7180
32
0.7111
28
Argentina
29
0.7187
29
24
0.7211
24
0.7209
33
Nicaragua
30
0.7176
30
49
0.7002
71
0.6747
90
Barbados
31
0.7176
31
21
0.7236
26
0.7188
n/a
Portugal
32
0.7171
32
46
0.7013
39
0.7051
37
Uganda
33
0.7169
33
40
0.7067
43
0.6981
50
Moldova
34
0.7160
34
36
0.7104
20
0.7244
21
Lithuania
35
0.7132
35
30
0.7175
23
0.7222
14
Bahamas
36
0.7128
36
28
0.7179
n/a
n/a
n/a
Austria
37
0.7091
37
42
0.7031
29
0.7153
27
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
Guyana
38
0.7090
38
35
0.7108
n/a
n/a
n/a
Panama
39
0.7072
39
43
0.7024
34
0.7095
38
Ecuador
40
0.7072
40
23
0.7220
35
0.7091
44
Kazakhstan
41
0.7055
41
47
0.7013
45
0.6976
32
Slovenia
42
0.7047
42
52
0.6982
51
0.6937
49
Poland
43
0.7037
43
50
0.6998
49
0.6951
60
Jamaica
44
0.7037
44
48
0.7013
44
0.6980
39
Russian
Federation
45
0.7036
45
51
0.6987
42
0.6994
45
France
46
0.7025
46
18
0.7331
15
0.7341
51
Estonia
47
0.7018
47
37
0.7094
37
0.7076
30
Chile
48
0.7013
48
64
0.6884
65
0.6818
86
Macedonia,
FYR
49
0.6996
49
53
0.6950
53
0.6914
35
Bulgaria
50
0.6983
50
38
0.7072
36
0.7077
25
Kyrgyz
Republic
51
0.6973
51
41
0.7058
41
0.7045
70
Israel
52
0.6957
52
45
0.7019
56
0.6900
36
Croatia
53
0.6939
53
54
0.6944
46
0.6967
16
Honduras
54
0.6927
54
62
0.6893
47
0.6960
68
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
Colombia
55
0.6927
55
56
0.6939
50
0.6944
24
Singapore
56
0.6914
56
84
0.6664
84
0.6625
77
Thailand
57
0.6910
57
59
0.6907
52
0.6917
52
Greece
58
0.6908
58
85
0.6662
75
0.6727
72
Uruguay
59
0.6897
59
57
0.6936
54
0.6907
78
Peru
60
0.6895
60
44
0.7024
48
0.6959
75
China
61
0.6881
61
60
0.6907
57
0.6878
73
Botswana
62
0.6876
62
39
0.7071
63
0.6839
53
Ukraine
63
0.6869
63
61
0.6896
62
0.6856
57
Venezuela
64
0.6863
64
69
0.6839
59
0.6875
55
Czech
Republic
65
0.6850
65
74
0.6789
69
0.6770
64
Tanzania
66
0.6829
66
73
0.6797
38
0.7068
34
Romania
67
0.6826
67
70
0.6805
70
0.6763
47
Malawi
68
0.6824
68
76
0.6738
81
0.6664
87
Paraguay
69
0.6804
69
66
0.6868
100
0.6379
69
Ghana
70
0.6782
70
80
0.6704
77
0.6679
63
Slovak
Republic
71
0.6778
71
68
0.6845
64
0.6824
54
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
Vietnam
72
0.6776
72
71
0.6802
68
0.6778
42
Dominican
Republic
73
0.6774
73
67
0.6859
72
0.6744
65
Italy
74
0.6765
74
72
0.6798
67
0.6788
84
Gambia,
The
75
0.6762
75
75
0.6752
85
0.6622
95
Bolivia
76
0.6751
76
82
0.6693
80
0.6667
80
Brueni
Darussalem
77
0.6748
77
94
0.6524
99
0.6392
n/a
Albania
78
0.6726
78
91
0.6601
87
0.6591
66
Hungary
79
0.6720
79
65
0.6879
60
0.6867
61
Madagascar
80
0.6713
80
77
0.6732
74
0.6736
89
Angola
81
0.6712
81
106
0.6353
114
0.6032
110
Bangladesh
82
0.6702
82
93
0.6526
90
0.6531
100
Malta
83
0.6695
83
88
0.6635
83
0.6634
76
Armenia
84
0.6669
84
90
0.6619
78
0.6677
71
Brazil
85
0.6655
85
81
0.6695
73
0.6737
74
Cyprus
86
0.6642
86
79
0.6706
76
0.6694
82
Indonesia
87
0.6615
87
92
0.6580
93
0.6473
81
Georgia
88
0.6598
88
83
0.6680
82
0.6654
67
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
Tajikistan
89
0.6598
89
86
0.6661
89
0.6541
79
El Salvador
90
0.6596
90
55
0.6939
58
0.6875
48
Mexico
91
0.6577
91
98
0.6503
97
0.6441
93
Zimbabwe
92
0.6574
92
95
0.6518
92
0.6485
88
Belize
93
0.6536
93
87
0.6636
86
0.6610
94
Japan
94
0.6524
94
101
0.6447
98
0.6434
91
Mauritius
95
0.6520
95
96
0.6513
95
0.6466
85
Kenya
96
0.6499
96
97
0.6512
88
0.6547
83
Cambodia
97
0.6482
97
104
0.6410
94
0.6469
98
Malaysia
98
0.6479
98
100
0.6467
96
0.6442
92
Maldives
99
0.6452
99
99
0.6482
91
0.6501
99
Azerbaijan
100
0.6446
100
89
0.6626
61
0.6856
59
Senegal
101
0.6414
101
102
0.6427
n/a
n/a
n/a
Suriname
102
0.6407
102
78
0.6726
79
0.6674
56
United Arab
Emirates
103
0.6397
103
112
0.6198
105
0.6220
105
Korea, Rep.
104
0.6342
104
115
0.6146
108
0.6154
97
Kuwait
105
0.6318
105
105
0.6356
101
0.6358
96
Zambia
106
0.6293
106
107
0.6310
106
0.6205
101
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
Tunisia
107
0.6266
107
109
0.6233
103
0.6295
102
Fiji
108
0.6256
108
103
0.6414
n/a
n/a
n/a
Guatemala
109
0.6238
109
111
0.6209
112
0.6072
106
Bahrain
110
0.6217
110
116
0.6136
121
0.5927
115
Burkina
Faso
111
0.6162
111
120
0.6081
115
0.6029
117
India
112
0.6155
112
114
0.6151
113
0.6060
114
Mauritania
113
0.6152
113
119
0.6103
110
0.6117
111
Cameroon
114
0.6110
114
118
0.6108
117
0.6017
116
Nepal
115
0.6084
115
110
0.6213
120
0.5942
125
Lebanon*
116
0.6084
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
Qatar
117
0.6059
116
125
0.5907
119
0.5948
109
Nigeria
118
0.6055
117
108
0.6280
102
0.6339
107
Algeria
119
0.6052
118
117
0.6119
111
0.6111
108
Jordan
120
0.6048
119
113
0.6182
104
0.6275
104
Ethiopia
121
0.6019
120
122
0.5948
122
0.5867
113
Oman
122
0.5950
121
123
0.5938
118
0.5960
119
Iran
123
0.5933
122
128
0.5839
116
0.6021
118
Syria
124
0.5926
123
121
0.6072
107
0.6181
103
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
Egypt
125
0.5899
124
126
0.5862
124
0.5832
120
Turkey
126
0.5876
125
129
0.5828
123
0.5853
121
Morocco
127
0.5767
126
124
0.5926
125
0.5757
122
Benin
128
0.5719
127
131
0.5643
126
0.5582
123
Saudi Arabia
129
0.5713
128
130
0.5651
128
0.5537
124
Côte
d'Ivoire*
130
0.5691
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
Mali
131
0.5680
129
127
0.5860
109
0.6117
112
Pakistan
132
0.5465
130
132
0.5458
127
0.5549
126
Chad
133
0.5330
131
133
0.5417
129
0.5290
127
Yemen
134
0.4603
132
134
0.4609
130
0.4664
128
Belarus
n/a
n/a
n/a
34
0.7141
33
0.7099
23
Uzbekistan
n/a
n/a
n/a
58
0.6913
55
0.6906
41
*new country 2010
Commentary:
According to the report’s index, Nordic countries, such as Iceland, Norway, Finland, and Sweden
have continued to dominate at the top of the ranking for gender equality. Meanwhile, France has
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
seen a notable decline in the ranking, largely as a result of decreased number of women holding
ministerial portfolios in that country. In the Americas, the United States has risen in the ranking to
top the region, predominantly as a result of a decreasing wage gap, as well as higher number of
women holding key positions in the current Obama administration. Canada has continued to
remain as one of the top ranking countries of the Americas, followed by the small Caribbean island
nation of Trinidad and Tobago, which has the distinction of being among the top three countries of
the Americans in the realm of gender equality. Lesotho and South African ranked highly in the
index, leading not only among African countries but also in global context. Despite Lesotho still
lagging in the area of life expectancy, its high ranking was attributed to high levels of female
participation in the labor force and female literacy. The Philippines and Sri Lanka were the top
ranking countries for gender equality for Asia, ranking highly also in global context. The
Philippines has continued to show strong performance in all strong performance on all four
dimensions (detailed above) of the index. Finally, in the Arab world, the United Arab Emirates
held the highest-rank within that region of the world; however, its placement near the bottom of
the global list highlights the fact that Arab countries are generally poor performers when it comes
to the matter of gender equality in global scope.
Source:
This data is derived from the latest edition of The Global Gender Gap Report by the World
Economic Forum.
Available at URL:
http://www.weforum.org/en/Communities/Women%20Leaders%20and%20Gender%20Parity/GenderGapNetw
Updated:
Based on latest available data as set forth in chart; reviewed in 2014
Culture and Arts
Content coming soon.
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
Etiquette
Cultural Dos and Taboos
1. As the official religion is Islam, visitors to Somalia should respect the Muslim codes of behavior
and dress.
2. Women and men should dress modestly.
3. No flirting and displays of affection are allowed in public.
4. Always remove shoes before entering a house or Mosque.
5. Never expose the heel of the foot to a Muslim.
6. It is best to avoid discussion of sex, politics, and religion.
7. The left hand is taboo. Never give anything, take anything, drink or eat anything with the left
hand.
8. Men and women may be separated during meals and other social activities.
9. Traditional dinners will serve food from a common bowl, possible without eating utensils. When
eating from a common bowl, avoid letting your fingers touch your mouth.
Travel Information
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
Please Note:
This is a generalized travel guide and it is intended to coalesce several resources, which a
traveler might find useful, regardless of a particular destination. As such, it does not
include travel warnings for specific "hot spot" destinations.
For travel alerts and warnings, please see the United States Department of State's listings
available at URL:
http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/alertswarnings.html
Please note that travel to the following countries, based on these warnings, is ill-advised, or
should be undertaken with the utmost precaution:
Afghanistan, Algeria, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Colombia,
Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guinea,
Honduras, Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Mexico, Nepal, Niger,
Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Palestinian Territories of West Bank and Gaza,
Philippines areas of Sulu Archipelago, Mindanao, and southern Sulu Sea, Saudi Arabia,
Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, Venezuela, and Yemen.
***
Please Note:
The U.S. Department of State continues to warn U.S. citizens to avoid all travel to Somalia.
There is at this time no U.S. Embassy or other formal U.S. diplomatic presence in Somalia.
Consequently, the U.S. government is not in a position to assist or effectively provide
services to U.S. citizens in Somalia. In light of this and continuous security threats, the U.S.
government recommends that U.S. citizens avoid all travel to Somalia.
The security situation inside Somalia remains unstable and dangerous. Terrorist operatives
and armed groups in Somalia have demonstrated their intent to attack Somali authorities,
the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), and other non-military targets.
Kidnapping, bombings, murder, illegal roadblocks, banditry, and other violent incidents
and threats to U.S. citizens and other foreign nationals can occur in any region of Somalia.
In addition, there is a particular threat to foreigners in places where large crowds gather and
westerners frequent, including airports, government buildings, and shopping areas. Interclan and inter-factional fighting can flare up with little or no warning. This type of violence
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
has resulted in the deaths of Somali nationals and the displacement of more than one
million people.
While some parts of south/central Somalia are now under Somali government control with
the military support of African Union forces, al-Shabaab (aligned with al-Qaida) has
demonstrated the capability to carry out attacks in government-controlled territory with
particular emphasis on targeting government facilities, foreign delegations’ facilities and
movements, and commercial establishments frequented by government officials, foreign
nationals, and the Somali diaspora.
Al-Shabaab-planned assassinations, suicide bombings, and indiscriminate armed attacks in
civilian populated areas are frequent in Somalia.
***
International Travel Guide
Checklist for Travelers
1. Take out travel insurance to cover hospital treatment or medical evacuation. Overseas medical
costs are expensive to most international travelers, where one's domestic, nationalized or even
private health insurance plans will not provide coverage outside one's home country. Learn about
"reciprocal insurance plans" that some international health care companies might offer.
2. Make sure that one's travel insurance is appropriate. If one intends to indulge in adventurous
activities, such as parasailing, one should be sure that one is fully insured in such cases. Many
traditional insurance policies do not provide coverage in cases of extreme circumstances.
3. Take time to learn about one's destination country and culture. Read and learn about the place
one is traveling. Also check political, economic and socio-cultural developments at the destination
by reading country-specific travel reports and fact sheets noted below.
4. Get the necessary visas for the country (or countries) one intends to visit - but be aware that a
visa does not guarantee entry. A number of useful sites regarding visa and other entry requirements
are noted below.
5. Keep in regular contact with friends and relatives back at home by phone or email, and be sure
to leave a travel itinerary.
6. Protect one's personal information by making copies of one's passport details, insurance policy,
travelers checks and credit card numbers. Taking copies of such documents with you, while
leaving another collection copies with someone at home is also good practice for travelers. Taking
copies of one's passport photograph is also recommended.
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
7. Stay healthy by taking all possible precautions against illness. Also, be sure to take extra supplies
of prescription drugs along for the trip, while also taking time to pack general pharmaceutical
supplies, such as aspirin and other such painkillers, bandages, stomach ailment medication, antiinflammatory medication and anti-bacterial medication.
8. Do not carry illicit drugs. Understand that the punishment for possession or use of illegal drugs
in some countries may be capital punishment. Make sure your prescription drugs are legal in the
countries you plan to visit.
9. Know the laws of one's destination country and culture; be sure to understand the repercussions
of breaking those laws and regulations. Often the transparency and freedoms of the juridical
system at home is not consistent with that of one's destination country. Become aware of these
complexities and subtleties before you travel.
10. For longer stays in a country, or where the security situation is volatile, one should register
one's self and traveling companions at the local embassy or consulate of one's country of
citizenship.
11. Women should take care to be prepared both culturally and practically for traveling in a
different country and culture. One should be sure to take sufficient supplies of personal feminine
products and prescription drugs. One should also learn about local cultural standards for women,
including norms of dressing. Be aware that it is simply inappropriate and unsafe for women to
travel alone in some countries, and take the necessary precautions to avoid risk-filled situations.
12. If one is traveling with small children, one should pack extra supplies, make arrangements with
the travel carrier for proper seating that would adequately accommodate children, infants or
toddlers. Note also that whether one is male of female, traveling with children means that one's
hands are thus not free to carry luggage and bags. Be especially aware that this makes one
vulnerable to pickpockets, thieves and other sorts of crime.
13. Make proper arrangements for accommodations, well in advance of one's arrival at a
destination. Some countries have limited accommodation, while others may have culturally
distinctive facilities. Learning about these practicalities before one travels will greatly aid the
enjoyment of one's trip.
14. Travel with different forms of currency and money (cash, traveler's checks and credit cards) in
anticipation that venues may not accept one or another form of money. Also, ensuring that one's
financial resources are not contained in one location, or by one person (if one is traveling with
others) can be a useful measure, in the event that one loses a wallet or purse.
15. Find out about transportation in the destination country. In some places, it might be advisable
to hire a local driver or taxi guide for safety reasons, while in other countries, enjoying one's travel
experience may well be enhanced by renting a vehicle and seeing the local sights and culture
independently. Costs may also be prohibitive for either of these choices, so again, prior planning is
suggested.
Note for Travelers
Somalia Review 2016
Somalia
Somalia is a small, developing country in the Horn of Africa. It has had no government since the
onset of civil war in 1991. That year, the northwest part of the country proclaimed itself the
Republic of Somaliland, and it now has its own governing authority although its economy is linked
with the rest of the country. The northeastern section of Somalia, which is semi-autonomous, is
known as Puntland. Somalia's economy was seriously damaged by the civil war and its aftermath,
but the private sector is trying to reemerge. Tourism facilities are non-existent. The principal city of
Somalia is Mogadishu. The principal city of Somaliland is Hargeisa. Other cities and towns of
importance include the port of Bosasso in the northeast, the port of Kismayu in the South, Baidoa,
and Garowe.
Tips for Travelers
A passport and visa are required in Somaliland and Puntland. Visas can be obtained at the ports of
entry. No visas are required for travel to other parts of Somalia, including Mogadishu.
Interclan and interfactional fighting can flare up with little warning, and kidnapping, murder, and
other threats to U.S. citizens and other foreigners can occur unpredictably in many regions. While
parts of the north have been relatively peaceful, including much of the self-declared "Republic of
Somaliland," there have been several recent attacks on Westerners and others in Somaliland. U.S.
Government visitors to that region are temporarily restricted from traveling outside the town of
Hargeisa.
Somaliland has experienced a level of stability that has not been present in other parts of Somalia.
However, travelers should always check current conditions in Somaliland before traveling. Persons
traveling to or through this area should be aware that incidents such as armed banditry and road
assaults may occur. In addition, there have been reports of general crime and rock-throwing against
aid workers outside of Hargeisa. Civil unrest persists in the rest of the country. U.S. citizens should
not travel to areas other than Somaliland.
Travelers are urged to use caution when sailing near the coast of Somalia. Merchant vessels,
fishing boats and pleasure craft alike risk seizure and their crew being held for ransom, especially in
the waters near the Horn of Africa and near the Kenyan border.
There is no U.S. Embassy or other diplomatic presence in Somalia to provide up-to-date security
assessments or consular assistance to U.S. citizens.
With the exception of Somaliland, crime is an extension of the general state of insecurity. Serious
and violent crimes are very common. Kidnapping and robbery are a particular problem in
Mogadishu and other areas in the south.
If you are the victim of a crime while overseas, in addition to reporting to local police, please
contact the nearest Embassy or Consulate for assistance. The Embassy/Consulate staff can, for
example, assist you to find appropriate medical care, to contact family members or friends and
explain how funds could be transferred. Although the investigation and prosecution of the crime is
solely the responsibility of local authorities, consular officers can help you to understand the local
criminal justice process and to find an attorney if needed.
Medical facilities in Somalia are extremely limited. Travelers should carry personal supplies of
medicines and medications with them. Travelers should also consult with their medical insurance
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company prior to traveling abroad to confirm whether their policy applies overseas and if it will
cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation. When making a decision regarding health
insurance, travelers should consider that many foreign doctors and hospitals require payment in
cash prior to providing service and that a medical evacuation to the United States may cost well in
excess of $50,000. Uninsured travelers who require medical care overseas often face extreme
difficulties. When consulting with your insurer prior to your trip, please ascertain whether payment
will be made to the overseas healthcare provider or if you will be reimbursed later for expenses that
you incur. Some insurance policies also include coverage for psychiatric treatment and for
disposition of remains in the event of death.
Malaria is endemic in many areas. There were recent outbreaks of cholera in Mogadishu, Kismayo
in the south, and the Puntland in the northeast during the past several months.
While in a foreign country, travelers may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from
those in the United States and Western Europe. The information below concerning Somalia is
provided for general reference only, and it may not be totally accurate in a particular location or
circumstance.
Safety of Public Transportation: Poor
Urban Road Conditions/Maintenance: Poor
Rural Road Conditions/Maintenance: Poor
Availability of Roadside Assistance: None
There are no traffic lights in the country except in Hargeisa in Somaliland. The poor condition of
most roads makes driving difficult. Night driving can be dangerous due to the absence of lighting.
Water and electricity systems are poor. An effective telecommunications system exists in major
towns in Somalia.
There is no organized system of criminal justice in Somalia nor uniform application of due process.
Enforcement of criminal laws is haphazard.
Note: This information is directly quoted from the United States Department of State Consular
Information Sheet.
Sources: United States Department of State Consular Information Sheet
Business Culture: Information for Business Travelers
For general information on etiquette in Somalia see our Cultural Etiquette page.
Online Resources Regarding Entry Requirements and Visas
Foreign Entry Requirements for Americans from the United States Department of State
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1765.html
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Visa Services for Non-Americans from the United States Department of State
http://travel.state.gov/visa/visa_1750.html
Visa Bulletins from the United States Department of State
http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/bulletin/bulletin_1360.html
Visa Waivers from the United States Department of State
http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/without/without_1990.html - new
Passport and Visa Information from the Government of the United Kingdom
http://www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/
Visa Information from the Government of Australia
http://www.dfat.gov.au/visas/index.html
Passport Information from the Government of Australia
https://www.passports.gov.au/Web/index.aspx
Passport Information from the Government of Canada
http://www.voyage.gc.ca/preparation_information/passport_passeport-eng.asp
Visa Information from the Government of Canada
http://www.voyage.gc.ca/preparation_information/visas-eng.asp
Online Visa Processing by Immigration Experts by VisaPro
http://www.visapro.com
Sources: United States Department of State, United Kingdom Foreign and Commonwealth Office,
Government of Australia: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Government of Canada
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
Useful Online Resources for Travelers
Country-Specific Travel Information from United States
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1765.html
Travel Advice by Country from Government of United Kingdom
http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travelling-and-living-overseas/travel-advice-by-country/
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General Travel Advice from Government of Australia
http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/General
Travel Bulletins from the Government of Australia
http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/TravelBulletins/
Travel Tips from Government of Australia
http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/tips/index.html
Travel Checklist by Government of Canada
http://www.voyage.gc.ca/preparation_information/checklist_sommaire-eng.asp
Travel Checklist from Government of United Kingdom
http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travelling-and-living-overseas/staying-safe/checklist
Your trip abroad from United States Department of State
http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/brochures/brochures_1225.html
A safe trip abroad from United States Department of State
http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/safety/safety_1747.html
Tips for expatriates abroad from United States Department of State
http://travel.state.gov/travel/living/residing/residing_1235.html
Tips for students from United States Department of State
http://travel.state.gov/travel/living/studying/studying_1238.html http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/brochures/broc
Medical information for travelers from United States Department of State
http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/health/health_1185.html
US Customs Travel information
http://www.customs.gov/xp/cgov/travel/
Sources: United States Department of State; United States Customs Department, United Kingdom
Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Government of Australia;
Government of Canada: Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
Other Practical Online Resources for Travelers
Foreign Language Phrases for Travelers
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http://www.travlang.com/languages/
http://www.omniglot.com/language/phrases/index.htm
World Weather Forecasts
http://www.intellicast.com/
http://www.wunderground.com/
http://www.worldweather.org/
Worldwide Time Zones, Map, World Clock
http://www.timeanddate.com/
http://www.worldtimezone.com/
International Airport Codes
http://www.world-airport-codes.com/
International Dialing Codes
http://www.kropla.com/dialcode.htm
http://www.countrycallingcodes.com/
International Phone Guide
http://www.kropla.com/phones.htm
International Mobile Phone Guide
http://www.kropla.com/mobilephones.htm
International Internet Café Search Engine
http://cybercaptive.com/
Global Internet Roaming
http://www.kropla.com/roaming.htm
World Electric Power Guide
http://www.kropla.com/electric.htm
http://www.kropla.com/electric2.htm
World Television Standards and Codes
http://www.kropla.com/tv.htm
International Currency Exchange Rates
http://www.xe.com/ucc/
Banking and Financial Institutions Across the World
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http://www.123world.com/banks/index.html
International Credit Card or Automated Teller Machine (ATM) Locator
http://visa.via.infonow.net/locator/global/
http://www.mastercard.com/us/personal/en/cardholderservices/atmlocations/index.html
International Chambers of Commerce
http://www.123world.com/chambers/index.html
World Tourism Websites
http://123world.com/tourism/
Diplomatic and Consular Information
United States Diplomatic Posts Around the World
http://www.usembassy.gov/
United Kingdom Diplomatic Posts Around the World
http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/about-the-fco/embassies-and-posts/find-an-embassy-overseas/
Australia's Diplomatic Posts Around the World
http://www.dfat.gov.au/missions/
http://www.dfat.gov.au/embassies.html
Canada's Embassies and High Commissions
http://www.international.gc.ca/ciw-cdm/embassies-ambassades.aspx
Resources for Finding Embassies and other Diplomatic Posts Across the World
http://www.escapeartist.com/embassy1/embassy1.htm
Safety and Security
Travel Warnings by Country from Government of Australia
http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/
Travel Warnings and Alerts from United States Department of State
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_1764.html
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_1766.html
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Travel Reports and Warnings by Government of Canada
http://www.voyage.gc.ca/countries_pays/menu-eng.asp
http://www.voyage.gc.ca/countries_pays/updates_mise-a-jour-eng.asp
Travel Warnings from Government of United Kingdom
http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travelling-and-living-overseas/travel-advice-by-country/
http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travelling-and-living-overseas/travel-advice-by-country/?
action=noTravelAll#noTravelAll
Sources: United Kingdom Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the United States Department of
State, the Government of Canada: Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade,
Government of Australia: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Other Safety and Security Online Resources for Travelers
United States Department of State Information on Terrorism
http://www.state.gov/s/ct/
Government of the United Kingdom Resource on the Risk of Terrorism
http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?
pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1044011304926
Government of Canada Terrorism Guide
http://www.international.gc.ca/crime/terrorism-terrorisme.aspx?lang=eng
Information on Terrorism by Government of Australia
http://www.dfat.gov.au/icat/index.html
FAA Resource on Aviation Safety
http://www.faasafety.gov/
In-Flight Safety Information for Air Travel (by British Airways crew trainer, Anna Warman)
http://www.warman.demon.co.uk/anna/inflight.html
Hot Spots: Travel Safety and Risk Information
http://www.airsecurity.com/hotspots/HotSpots.asp
Information on Human Rights
http://www.state.gov/g/drl/hr/
Sources: The United States Department of State, the United States Customs Department, the
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Government of Canada, the Government of United Kingdom, the Government of Australia, the
Federal Aviation Authority, Anna Warman's In-flight Website, Hot Spots Travel and Risk
Information
Diseases/Health Data
Please Note: Most of the entry below constitutes a generalized health advisory, which a
traveler might find useful, regardless of a particular destination.
As a supplement, however, the reader will also find below a list of countries flagged with
current health notices and alerts issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC). Please note that travel to the following countries, based on these 3 levels of
warnings, is ill-advised, or should be undertaken with the utmost precaution:
Level 3 (highest level of concern; avoid non-essential travel) -Guinea - Ebola
Liberia - Ebola
Nepal - Eathquake zone
Sierra Leone - Ebola
Level 2 (intermediate level of concern; use utmost caution during travel) -Cameroon - Polio
Somalia - Polio
Vanuatu - Tropical Cyclone zone
Throughout Middle East and Arabia Peninsula - MERS ((Middle East Respiratory
Syndrome)
Level 1 (standard level of concern; use practical caution during travel) Somalia Review 2016
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Australia - Ross River disease
Bosnia-Herzegovina - Measles
Brazil - Dengue Fever
Brazil - Malaria
Brazil - Zika
China - H7N9 Avian flu
Cuba - Cholera
Egypt - H5N1 Bird flu
Ethiopia - Measles
Germany - Measles
Japan - Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD)
Kyrgyzstan - Measles
Malaysia -Dengue Fever
Mexico - Chikungunya
Mexico - Hepatitis A
Nigeria - Meningitis
Philippines - Measles
Scotland - Mumps
Singapore - Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD)
South Korea - MERS ((Middle East Respiratory Syndrome)
Throughout Caribbean - Chikungunya
Throughout Central America - Chikungunya
Throughout South America - Chikungunya
Throughout Pacific Islands - Chikungunya
For specific information related to these health notices and alerts please see the CDC's
listing available at URL:
http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices
***
Health Information for Travelers to Somalia
Food and waterborne diseases are the number one cause of illness in travelers. Travelers' diarrhea
can be caused by viruses, bacteria, or parasites, which are found throughout the region and can
contaminate food or water. Infections may cause diarrhea and vomiting (E. coli, Salmonella,
cholera, and parasites), fever (typhoid fever and toxoplasmosis), or liver damage (hepatitis). Make
sure your food and drinking water are safe. (See below.)
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Malaria is a preventable infection that can be fatal if left untreated. Prevent infection by taking
prescription antimalarial drugs and protecting yourself against mosquito bites (see below). Most
travelers to malaria risk areas in this region should take mefloquine to prevent malaria. You can be
infected with malaria in all areas of this region except the cities of Addis Ababa, Ismara, and
Nairobi, the islands of Reunion and Seychelles, and in highland areas above 2,500 meters. For
more detailed information about the risk in specific locations, see Malaria in East Africa
(http://www.cdc.gov/travel/regionalmalaria/eafrica.htm).
A certificate of yellow fever vaccine may be required for entry into certain of these countries. For
detailed information, see Comprehensive Yellow Fever Vaccination Requirements
(http://www.cdc.gov/travel/yelfever.htm).
Dengue, filariasis, leishmaniasis, onchocerciasis, trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness), and Rift
Valley fever are diseases carried by insects that also occur in this region. Protecting yourself against
insect bites will help to prevent these diseases.
Schistosomiasis, a parasitic infection, is found in fresh water in the region, including Lake Malawi.
Do not swim in fresh water (except in well-chlorinated swimming pools) in these countries. (For
more information, please see the Swimming Precautions on the Making Travel Safe page at URL
http://www.cdc.gov/travel/safety.htm.)
Because motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of injury among travelers, walk and drive
defensively. Avoid nighttime travel if possible and always use seat belts.
CDC Recommends the Following Vaccines (as Appropriate for Age):
See your doctor at least 4-6 weeks before your trip to allow time for shots to take effect.
• Hepatitis A or immune globulin (IG).
• Hepatitis B, if you might be exposed to blood (for example, health-care workers), have sexual
contact with the local population, stay longer than 6 months, or be exposed through medical
treatment.
• Meningococcal (meningitis) vaccine, if you plan to visit the western half of Ethiopia (see
meningitis map at URL http://www.cdc.gov/travel/meninmap.htm) from December through June.
• Rabies, if you might be exposed to wild or domestic animals through your work or recreation.
• Typhoid, particularly if you are visiting developing countries in this region.
• Yellow fever, if you travel anywhere outside urban areas.
• As needed, booster doses for tetanus-diphtheria, measles, and a one-time dose of polio vaccine
for adults. Hepatitis B vaccine is now recommended for all infants and for children ages 11-12
years who did not receive the series as infants.
To Stay Healthy, Do:
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• Wash hands often with soap and water.
• Drink only bottled or boiled water, or carbonated (bubbly) drinks in cans or bottles. Avoid tap
water, fountain drinks, and ice cubes. If this is not possible, make water safer by BOTH filtering
through an "absolute 1-micron or less" filter AND adding iodine tablets to the filtered water.
"Absolute 1-micron filter" are found in camping/outdoor supply stores.
• Eat only thoroughly cooked food or fruits and vegetables you have peeled yourself. Remember:
boil it, cook it, peel it, or forget it.
• If you travel to an area where there is risk for malaria, take your malaria prevention medication
before, during, and after travel, as directed. (See your doctor for a prescription.)
• Protect yourself from insects by remaining in well-screened areas, using repellents (applied
sparingly at 4-hour intervals) and permethrin-impregnated mosquito nets, and wearing long-sleeved
shirts and long pants from dusk through dawn.
• To prevent fungal and parasitic infections, keep feet clean and dry, and do not go barefoot.
• Always use latex condoms to reduce the risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.
To Avoid Getting Sick:
• Don't eat food purchased from street vendors.
• Don't drink beverages with ice.
• Don't eat dairy products unless you know they have been pasteurized.
• Don't share needles with anyone.
• Don't handle animals (especially monkeys, dogs, and cats), to avoid bites and serious diseases
(including rabies and plague). (For more information, please see the Animal-Associated Hazards on
the Making Travel Safe page.)
• Don't swim in fresh water, including Lake Malawi. Salt water is usually safer. (For more
information, please see the Swimming Precautions on the Making Travel Safe page.)
What You Need To Bring with You:
• Long-sleeved shirt and long pants to wear while outside whenever possible, to prevent illnesses
carried by insects (e.g., malaria, dengue, filariasis, leishmaniasis, and onchocerciasis).
• Insect repellent containing DEET (diethylmethyltoluamide), in 30%-35% strength for adults and
6%-10% for children. Unless you are staying in air-conditioned or well-screened housing, purchase
a bed net impregnated with the insecticide permethrin. (Bed nets can be purchased in camping or
military supply stores.)
• Over-the-counter antidiarrheal medicine to take if you have diarrhea.
• Iodine tablets and water filters to purify water if bottled water is not available. See Do's above for
more detailed information about water filters.
• Sunblock, sunglasses, hat.
• Prescription medications: make sure you have enough to last during your trip, as well as a copy
of the prescription(s).
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After You Return Home:
If you have visited an area where there is risk for malaria, continue taking your malaria medication
weekly for 4 weeks after you leave the area.
If you become ill after your trip-even as long as a year after you return-tell your doctor where you
have traveled.
For More Information:
Ask your doctor or check the CDC web sites for more information about how to protect yourself
against diseases that occur in East Africa, such as:
For information about diseasesCarried by Insects
Dengue, Malaria, Yellow Fever
Carried in Food or Water
Cholera, Escherichia coli, diarrhea, Hepatitis A, Schistosomiasis, Typhoid Fever
Person-to-Person Contact
Hepatitis B, HIV/AIDS
For more information about these and other diseases, please check the Diseases
(http://www.cdc.gov/travel/diseases.htm) s e c t i o n a n d t h e H e a l t h T o p i c s A - Z
(http://www.cdc.gov/health/diseases.htm).
Several cases of African trypanosomiasis (African sleeping sickness) have been reported from this
region in recent years, including cases among tourists visiting game parks. For more information
and recommendations on trypanosomiasis, see Travelers' Health Information on African
Trypanosomiasis (http://www.cdc.gov/travel/diseases/aftrypano.htm).
Also, please check the Outbreaks section for important updates on this region, including
information on the Epidemic of Meningococcal Disease in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
(http://www.cdc.gov/travel/outbreaks.htm).
Note:
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Somalia is located in the East Africa health region.
Sources:
The Center for Disease Control Destinations Website:
http://www.cdc.gov/travel/indianrg.htm
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Chapter 6
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Environmental Issues
General Overview:
Somalia possesses a predominantly semi-arid to arid landscape, and most of the population is
engaged in some form of pastoral (agricultural) practices. Yet precisely because of this fact,
Somalia 's environment remained relatively sound since this form of land use is particularly
conducive to land preservation and vegetation maintenance.
The civil war in 1991, however, ushered in a time of environmental stress because any institutional
management of the country's ecosystems and biodiversity effectively ceased to exist.
In more recent years, there has been some increase in the population density. Population pressures
have contributed to some destructive practices such as overgrazing of livestock, the indiscriminate
clearing of woodlands, and other unsustainable activities, to the point at which water resources are
threatened, and soil erosion as well as desertification has become a reality.
Current Issues:
-threats to water supplies
-overgrazing
-deforestation
-desertification
-soil erosion
-use of contaminated water and related threats to human health
Total Greenhouse Gas Emissions (Mtc):
N/A
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Country Rank (GHG output):
N/A
Natural Hazards:
-recurring droughts
-frequent dust storms over eastern plains in summer
-floods during rainy season
-famine
Environmental Policy
Regulation and Jurisdiction:
The regulation and protection of the environment in Somalia is under the jurisdiction of the
following:
National Environmental Co-ordination Committee
Ministry of National Planning
Major Non-Governmental Organizations:
N/A
International Environmental Accords:
Party to:
Endangered Species
Law of the Sea
Ozone Layer Protection
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Signed but not ratified:
Marine Dumping
Nuclear Test Ban
Kyoto Protocol Status (year ratified):
Somalia is not a signatory to the Kyoto Protocol
GHG Emissions Rankings
Country
Rank
Country
1
United States
2
China
4
Russia
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5
Japan
6
India
7
Germany
8
United Kingdom
9
Canada
10
Korea, South
11
Italy
12
Mexico
13
France
14
South Africa
15
Iran
16
Indonesia
17
Australia
18
Spain
19
Brazil
20
Saudi Arabia
21
Ukraine
22
Poland
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23
Taiwan
24
Turkey
25
Thailand
26
Netherlands
27
Kazakhstan
28
Malaysia
29
Egypt
30
Venezuela
31
Argentina
32
Uzbekistan
33
Czech Republic
34
Belgium
35
Pakistan
36
Romania
37
Greece
38
39
Algeria
40
Nigeria
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41
Austria
42
Iraq
43
Finland
44
Philippines
45
Vietnam
46
Korea, North
47
Israel
48
Portugal
49
Colombia
50
Belarus
51
Kuwait
52
Hungary
53
Chile
54
Denmark
55
Serbia & Montenegro
56
Sweden
57
Syria
58
Libya
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59
Bulgaria
60
Singapore
61
Switzerland
62
Ireland
63
Turkmenistan
64
Slovakia
65
Bangladesh
66
Morocco
67
New Zealand
68
Oman
69
Qatar
70
Azerbaijan
71
Norway
72
Peru
73
Cuba
74
Ecuador
75
Trinidad & Tobago
76
Croatia
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77
Tunisia
78
Dominican Republic
79
Lebanon
80
Estonia
81
Yemen
82
Jordan
83
Slovenia
84
Bahrain
85
Angola
86
Bosnia & Herzegovina
87
Lithuania
88
Sri Lanka
89
Zimbabwe
90
Bolivia
91
Jamaica
92
Guatemala
93
Luxembourg
94
Myanmar
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95
Sudan
96
Kenya
97
Macedonia
98
Mongolia
99
Ghana
100
Cyprus
101
Moldova
102
Latvia
103
El Salvador
104
Brunei
105
Honduras
106
Cameroon
107
Panama
108
Costa Rica
109
Cote d'Ivoire
110
Kyrgyzstan
111
Tajikistan
112
Ethiopia
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113
Senegal
114
Uruguay
115
Gabon
116
Albania
117
Nicaragua
118
Botswana
119
Paraguay
120
Tanzania
121
Georgia
122
Armenia
123
Congo, RC
124
Mauritius
125
Nepal
126
Mauritius
127
Nepal
128
Mauritania
129
Malta
130
Papua New Guinea
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131
Zambia
132
Suriname
133
Iceland
134
Togo
135
Benin
136
Uganda
137
Bahamas
138
Haiti
139
Congo, DRC
140
Guyana
141
Mozambique
142
Guinea
143
Equatorial Guinea
144
Laos
145
Barbados
146
Niger
147
Fiji
148
Burkina Faso
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149
Malawi
150
Swaziland
151
Belize
152
Afghanistan
153
Sierra Leone
154
Eritrea
155
Rwanda
156
Mali
157
Seychelles
158
Cambodia
159
Liberia
160
Bhutan
161
Maldives
162
Antigua & Barbuda
163
Djibouti
164
Saint Lucia
165
Gambia
166
Guinea-Bissau
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167
168
Palau
169
Burundi
170
Grenada
171
Lesotho
172
Saint Vincent & the Grenadines
173
Solomon Islands
174
Samoa
175
Cape Verde
176
Nauru
177
Dominica
178
Saint Kitts & Nevis
179
Chad
180
Tonga
181
Sao Tome & Principe
182
Comoros
183
Vanuatu
185
Kiribati
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Not Ranked
Andorra
Not Ranked
East Timor
Not Ranked
Holy See
Not Ranked
Hong Kong
Not Ranked
Liechtenstein
Not Ranked
Marshall Islands
Not Ranked
Micronesia
Not Ranked
Monaco
Not Ranked
San Marino
Not Ranked
Somalia
Not Ranked
Tuvalu
* European Union is ranked 3rd
Cook Islands are ranked 184th
Niue is ranked 186th
Global Environmental Snapshot
Introduction
The countries of the world face many environmental challenges in common. Nevertheless, the
nature and intensity of problem vary from region to region, as do various countries' respective
capacities, in terms of affluence and infrastructure, to remediate threats to environmental quality.
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Consciousness of perils affecting the global environment came to the fore in the last third or so of
the 20th century has continued to intensify well into the new millennium. According to the United
Nations Environment Programme, considerable environmental progress has been made at the level
of institutional developments, international cooperation accords, and public participation.
Approximately two-dozen international environmental protection accords with global implications
have been promulgated since the late 1970s under auspices of the United Nations and other
international organizations, together with many additional regional agreements. Attempts to address
and rectify environmental problems take the form of legal frameworks, economic instruments,
environmentally sound technologies and cleaner production processes as well as conservation
efforts. Environmental impact assessments have increasingly been applied across the globe.
Environmental degradation affects the quality, or aesthetics, of human life, but it also displays
potential to undermine conditions necessary for the sustainability of human life. Attitudes toward
the importance of environmental protection measures reflect ambivalence derived from this
bifurcation. On one hand, steps such as cleaning up pollution, dedicating parkland, and suchlike,
are seen as embellishments undertaken by wealthy societies already assured they can successfully
perform those functions deemed, ostensibly, more essential-for instance, public health and
education, employment and economic development. On the other hand, in poorer countries,
activities causing environmental damage-for instance the land degradation effects of unregulated
logging, slash-and-burn agriculture, overgrazing, and mining-can seem justified insofar as such
activities provide incomes and livelihoods.
Rapid rates of resource depletion are associated with poverty and high population growth,
themselves correlated, whereas consumption per capita is much higher in the most developed
countries, despite these nations' recent progress in energy efficiency and conservation. It is
impossible to sequester the global environmental challenge from related economic, social and
political challenges.
First-tier industrialized countries have recently achieved measurable decreases in environmental
pollution and the rate of resource depletion, a success not matched in middle income and
developing countries. It is believed that the discrepancy is due to the fact that industrialized
countries have more developed infrastructures to accommodate changes in environmental policy, to
apply environmental technologies, and to invest in public education. The advanced industrialized
countries incur relatively lower costs in alleviating environmental problems, in comparison to
developing countries, since in the former even extensive environmental programs represent a rather
minuscule percentage of total expenditures. Conversely, budget constraints, lagged provision of
basic services to the population, and other factors such as debt service and militarization may
preclude institution of minimal environmental protection measures in the poorest countries.
A synopsis for the current situation facing each region of the world follows:
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Regional Synopsis: Africa
The African continent, the world's second-largest landmass, encompasses many of the world's
least developed countries. By global standards, urbanization is comparatively low but rising at a
rapid rate. More heavily industrialized areas at the northern and southern ends of the continent
experience the major share of industrial pollution. In other regions the most serious environmental
problems typically stem from inefficient subsistence farming methods and other forms of land
degradation, which have affected an increasingly extensive area under pressure of a widely
impoverished, fast-growing population. Africa's distribution of natural resources is very uneven. It
is the continent at greatest risk of desertification, especially in the Sahel region at the edge of the
Sahara but also in other dry-range areas. Yet at the same time, Africa also harbors some of the
earth's richest and most diverse biological zones.
Key Points:
Up to half a billion hectares of African land are moderately to severely degraded, an occurrence
reflecting short-fallow shifting cultivation and overgrazing as well as a climatic pattern of recurrent
droughts.
Soil degradation is severe along the expanse directly south of the Sahara, from the west to the east
coasts. Parts of southern Africa, central-eastern Africa, and the neighboring island of Madagascar
suffer from serious soil degradation as well.
Africa contains about 17 percent of the world's forest cover, concentrated in the tropical belt of the
continent. Many of the forests, however, are severely depleted, with an estimated 70 percent
showing some degree of degradation.
Population growth has resulted in continuing loss of arable land, as inefficient subsistence farming
techniques affect increasingly extensive areas. Efforts to implement settled, sustainable agriculture
have met with some recent success, but much further progress in this direction is needed.
Especially in previously uninhabited forestlands, concern over deforestation is intensifying.
By contrast, the African savanna remains the richest grassland in the world, supporting a
substantial concentration of animal and plant life. Wildlife parks are sub-Saharan Africa's greatest
tourist attraction, and with proper management-giving local people a stake in conservation and
controlling the pace of development-could greatly enhance African economies.
Significant numbers of mammal species in parts of northern, southern and eastern Africa are
currently threatened, while the biological diversity in Mauritania and Madagascar is even further
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compromised with over 20 percent of the mammal species in these two countries currently under
threat.
With marine catch trends increasing from 500,000 metric tons in the 1950s to over 3,000,000
metric tons by 2000, there was increasing concern about the reduction in fisheries and marine life,
should this trend continue unabated.
Water resource vulnerability is a major concern in northeastern Africa, and a moderate concern
across the rest of the continent. An exception is central Africa, which has plentiful water supplies.
Many Africans lack adequate access to resources, not just (if at all) because the resources are
unevenly distributed geographically, but also through institutional failures such as faulty land tenure
systems or political upheaval. The quality of Africa's natural resources, despite their spotty
distribution, is in fact extraordinarily rich. The infrastructure needed to protect and benefit from
this natural legacy, however, is largely lacking.
Regional Synopsis: Asia and the Pacific
Asia-earth's largest landmass-and the many large and nearly innumerable small islands lying off its
Pacific shore display extraordinarily contrasting landscapes, levels of development, and degrees of
environmental stress. In the classification used here, the world's smallest continent, Australia, is
also included in the Asia-Pacific region.
The Asia-Pacific region is home to 9 of the world's 14 largest urban areas, and as energy use for
utilities, industry and transport increases in developing economies, urban centers are subject to
worsening air quality. Intense population density in places such as Bangladesh or Hong Kong is the
quintessential image many people have of Asia, yet vast desert areas such as the Gobi and the
world's highest mountain range, the Himalayas, span the continent as well. Forested areas in
Southeast Asia and the islands of Indonesia and the Philippines were historically prized for their
tropical hardwood, but in many places this resource is now severely depleted. Low-lying small
island states are extremely vulnerable to the effects of global warming, both rising sea levels and an
anticipated increase in cyclones.
Key Points:
Asian timber reserves are forecast to be depleted in the next 40 years. Loss of natural forest is
irreversible in some areas, but plantation programs to restore tree cover may ameliorate a portion
of the resulting land degradation.
Increased usage of fossil fuels in China and other parts of southern Asia is projected to result in a
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marked increase in emissions, especially in regard to carbon dioxide. The increased usage of energy
has led to a marked upsurge in air pollution across the region.
Acidification is an emerging problem regionally, with sulfur dioxide emissions expected to triple by
2010 if the current growth rate is sustained. China, Thailand, India, and Korea seem to be
suffering from particularly high rates of acid deposition. By contrast, Asia's most highly developed
economy, Japan, has effected substantial improvements in its environmental indicators.
Water pollution in the Pacific is an urgent concern since up to 70 percent of the water discharged
into the region's waters receives no treatment. Additionally, the disposal of solid wastes, in like
manner, poses a major threat in a region with many areas of high population density.
The Asia-Pacific region is the largest expanse of the world's land that is adversely affected by soil
degradation.
The region around Australia reportedly suffers the largest degree of ozone depletion.
The microstates of the Pacific suffer land loss due to global warming, and the consequent rise in
the levels of ocean waters. A high-emissions scenario and anthropogenic climate impact at the
upper end of the currently predicted range would probably force complete evacuation of the
lowest-elevation islands sometime in this century.
The species-rich reefs surrounding Southeast Asia are highly vulnerable to the deleterious effects of
coastal development, land-based pollution, over-fishing and exploitative fishing methods, as well as
marine pollution from oil spills and other activities.
With marine catch trends increasing from 5,000,000 metric tons in the 1950s to over 20,000,000
Significant numbers of mammal species in parts of China and south-east Asia are currently
threatened, while the biological diversity in India, Japan, Australia, the Philippines, Indonesia and
parts of Malaysia is even further compromised with over 20 percent of the mammal species in
these countries currently under threat.
Water resource vulnerability is a serious concern in areas surrounding the Indian subcontinent.
Regional Synopsis: Central Asia
The Central Asian republics, formerly in the Soviet Union, experience a range of environmental
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problems as the result of poorly executed agricultural, industrial, and nuclear programs during the
Soviet era. Relatively low population densities are the norm, especially since upon the breakup of
the U.S.S.R. many ethnic Russians migrated back to European Russia. In this largely semi-arid
region, drought, water shortages, and soil salinization pose major challenges.
Key Points:
The use of agricultural pesticides, such as DDT and other chemicals, has contributed to the
contamination of soil and groundwater throughout the region.
Land and soil degradation, and in particular, increased salinization, is mostly attributable to faulty
irrigation practices.
Significant desertification is also a problem in the region.
Air pollution is prevalent, mostly due to use of low octane automobile fuel.
Industrial pollution of the Caspian Sea and the Aral Sea, as a result of industrial effluents as well as
mining and metal production, presents a challenge to the countries bordering these bodies of water.
One of the most severe environmental problems in the region is attributable to the several billion
tons of hazardous materials stored in landfills across Central Asia.
Uzbekistan's particular problem involves the contraction of the Aral Sea, which has decreased in
size by a third, as a consequence of river diversions and poor irrigation practices. The effect has
been the near-total biological destruction of that body of water.
Kazakhstan, as a consequence of being the heartland of the former Soviet Union's nuclear
program, has incurred a high of cancerous malignancies, biogenetic abnormalities and radioactive
contamination.
While part of the Soviet Union, the republics in the region experienced very high levels of
greenhouse gas emissions, as a consequence of rapid industrialization using cheap but dirty energy
sources, especially coal.
By contrast, however, there have recently been substantial reductions in the level of greenhouse
gas emissions, especially those attributable to coal burning, with further decreases anticipated over
the next decade. These changes are partially due to the use of cleaner energy technologies, such as
natural gas, augmented by governmental commitment to improving environmental standards.
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Regional Synopsis: Europe
Western Europe underwent dramatic transformation of its landscape, virtually eliminating largescale natural areas, during an era of rapid industrialization, which intensified upon its recovery from
World War II. In Eastern Europe and European Russia, intensive land development has been less
prevalent, so that some native forests and other natural areas remain. Air and water pollution from
use of dirty fuels and industrial effluents, however, are more serious environmental problems in
Eastern than in Western Europe, though recent trends show improvement in many indicators. Acid
rain has inflicted heavy environmental damage across much of Europe, particularly on forests.
Europe and North America are the only regions in which water usage for industry exceeds that for
agriculture, although in Mediterranean nations agriculture is the largest water consumer.
Key Points:
Europe contributes 36 percent of the world's chlorofluorocarbon emissions, 30 percent of carbon
dioxide emissions, and 25 percent of sulfur dioxide emissions.
Sulfur and nitrogen oxide emissions are the cause of 30 to 50 percent of Central and Eastern
Europe's deforestation.
Acid rain has been an environmental concern for decades and continues to be a challenge in parts
of Western Europe.
Overexploitation of up to 60 percent of Europe's groundwater presents a problem in industrial and
urban areas.
With marine catch trends increasing from 5,000,000 metric tons in the 1950s to over 20,000,000
Significant numbers of mammal species in parts of western Europe, Eastern Europe and Russia are
currently threatened, while the biological diversity on the Iberian Peninsula is even further
compromised with over 40 percent of the mammal species in this region currently under threat. As
a result, there has been a 10 percent increase in protected areas of Europe.
A major environmental issue for Europe involves the depletion of various already endangered or
threatened species, and most significantly, the decline of fish stocks. Some estimates suggest that
up to 50 percent of the continent's fish species may be considered endangered species. Coastal
fisheries have been over-harvested, resulting in catch limits or moratoriums on many commercially
important fish species.
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Fortunately, in the last few years, these policies have started to yield measurable results with
decreasing trends in marine fish catch.
Recently, most European countries have adopted cleaner production technologies, and alternative
methods of waste disposal, including recycling.
The countries of Eastern Europe have made air quality a major environmental priority. This is
exemplified by the Russian Federation's addition to the 1995 "Berlin Mandate" (transnational
legislation based on resolutions of the Rio Earth Summit) compelling nations to promote "carbon
sinks" to absorb greenhouse gases.
On a relative basis, when compared with the degree of industrial emissions emitted by many
Eastern European countries until the late 1980s, there has been some marked increase in air quality
in the region, as obsolete plants are closed and a transition to cleaner fuels and more efficient
energy use takes place.
Regional Synopsis: The Middle and Near East
Quite possibly, the Middle East will exemplify the adage that, as the 20th century was a century
fixated on oil, the 21st century will be devoted to critical decisions about water. Many (though far
from all) nations in the Middle East rank among those countries with the largest oil and gas
reserves, but water resources are relatively scarce throughout this predominantly dry region.
Effects of global warming may cause moderately high elevation areas that now typically receive
winter "snowpack" to experience mainly rain instead, which would further constrain dry-season
water availability. The antiquities and religious shrines of the region render it a great magnet for
tourism, which entails considerable economic growth potential but also intensifies stresses on the
environment.
Key Points:
Water resource vulnerability is a serious concern across the entire region. The increased usage of,
and further demand for water, has exacerbated long-standing water scarcity in the region. For
instance, river diversions and industrial salt works have caused the Dead Sea to shrink by one-third
from its original surface area, with further declines expected.
The oil industry in the region contributes to water pollution in the Persian Gulf, as a result of oil
spills, which have averaged 1.2 million barrels of oil spilt per year (some sources suggest that this
figure is understated). The consequences are severe because even after oil spills have been cleaned
up, environmental damage to the food webs and ecosystems of marine life will persist for a
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prolonged period.
The region's coastal zone is considered one of the most fragile and endangered ecosystems of the
world. Land reclamation, shoreline construction, discharge of industrial effluents, and tourism
(such as diving in the Red Sea) contribute to widespread coastal damage.
Significant numbers of mammal species in parts of the Middle East are currently threatened.
Since the 1980s, 11 percent of the region's natural forest has been depleted.
Regional Synopsis: Latin America and the Caribbean
The Latin American and Caribbean region is characterized by exceedingly diverse landforms that
have generally seen high rates of population growth and economic development in recent decades.
The percentage of inhabitants residing in urban areas is quite high at 73.4 percent; the region
includes the megacities of Mexico City, Sao Paulo, and Rio de Janeiro. The region also includes the
world's second-highest mountain range, the Andes; significant expanses of desert and grassland; the
coral reefs of the Caribbean Sea; and the world's largest contiguous tropical forest in the Amazon
basin. Threats to the latter from subsistence and commercial farming, mineral exploitation and
timbering are well publicized. Nevertheless, of eight countries worldwide that still retain at least 70
percent of their original forest cover, six are in Latin America. The region accounts for nearly half
(48.3 percent) of the world's greenhouse gas emissions derived from land clearing, but as yet a
comparatively minuscule share (4.3 percent) of such gases from industrial sources.
Key Points:
Although Latin America is one of the most biologically diverse regions of the world, this
biodiversity is highly threatened, as exemplified by the projected extinction of up to 100,000
species in the next few decades. Much of this loss will be concentrated in the Amazon area,
although the western coastline of South America will also suffer significant depletion of biological
diversity. The inventory of rainforest species with potentially useful commercial or medical
applications is incomplete, but presumed to include significant numbers of such species that may
become extinct before they are discovered and identified.
Up to 50 percent of the region's grazing land has lost its soil fertility as a result of soil erosion,
salinization, alkalinization and overgrazing.
The Caribbean Sea, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Pacific Ocean have all been contaminated by
agricultural wastes, which are discharged into streams that flow into these major waters. Water
pollution derived from phosphorous, nitrates and pesticides adversely affects fish stocks,
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contributes to oxygen depletion and fosters overgrowth of aquatic vegetation. Marine life will
continue to be severely compromised as a result of these conditions.
Due to industrial development in the region, many beaches of eastern Latin America and the
Caribbean suffer from tar deposits.
Most cities in the region lack adequate sewage treatment facilities, and rapid migration of the rural
poor into the cities is widening the gap between current infrastructure capacity and the much
greater level needed to provide satisfactory basic services.
The rainforest region of the Amazon Basin suffers from dangerously high levels of deforestation,
which may be a significant contributory factor to global warming or "the greenhouse effect." In the
late 1990s and into the new millennium, the rate of deforestation was around 20 million acres of
rainforest being destroyed annually.
Deforestation on the steep rainforest slopes of Caribbean islands contributes to soil erosion and
landslides, both of which then result in heavy sedimentation of nearby river systems. When these
sedimented rivers drain into the sea and coral reefs, they poison the coral tissues, which are vital to
the maintenance of the reef ecosystem. The result is marine degradation and nutrient depletion.
Jamaica's coral reefs have never quite recovered from the effects of marine degradation.
The Southern Cone of Latin America (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay) suffers the
effects of greatly increased ultraviolet-B radiation, as a consequence of more intense ozone
depletion in the southern hemisphere.
Water resource vulnerability is an increasingly major concern in the northwestern portion of South
America.
Regional Synopsis: North America
North American nations, in particular the United States and Canada, rank among the world's most
highly developed industrial economies-a fact which has generated significant pollution problems,
but also financial resources and skills that have enabled many problems to be corrected. Although
efforts to promote energy efficiency, recycling, and suchlike have helped ease strains on the
environment in a part of the world where per capita consumption levels are high, sprawling land
development patterns and recent preferences many households have demonstrated for larger
vehicles have offset these advances.
Meanwhile, a large portion of North America's original forest cover has been lost, though in many
cases replaced by productive second-growth woodland. In recent years, attitudes toward best use
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of the region's remaining natural or scenic areas seem to be shifting toward recreation and
preservation and away from resource extraction. With increasing attention on the energy scarcity in
the United States, however, there is speculation that this shift may be short-lived. Indeed, the
energy shortage on the west coast of the United States and associated calls for energy exploration,
indicate a possible retrenchment toward resource extraction. At the same time, however, it has also
served to highlight the need for energy conservation as well as alternative energy sources.
Despite generally successful anti-pollution efforts, various parts of the region continue to suffer
significant air, water and land degradation from industrial, vehicular, and agricultural emissions and
runoff. Mexico, as a middle-income country, displays environmental problems characteristic of a
developing economy, including forest depletion, pollution from inefficient industrial processes and
dirty fuels, and lack of sufficient waste-treatment infrastructure.
Key Points:
Because of significantly greater motor vehicle usage in the United States (U.S.) than in the rest of
the world, the U.S. contribution of urban air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, especially
carbon dioxide, is disproportionately high in relation to its population.
Acid rain is an enduring issue of contention in the northeastern part of the United States, on the
border with Canada.
Mexico's urban areas suffer extreme air pollution from carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur
dioxide, and other toxic air pollutants. Emissions controls on vehicles are in their infancy, compared
to analogous regulations in the U.S.
The cities of Mexico, including those on the U.S. border, also discharge large quantities of
untreated or poorly treated sewage, though officials are currently planning infrastructure upgrades.
Deforestation is noteworthy in various regions of the U.S., especially along the northwest coastline.
Old growth forests have been largely removed, but in the northeastern and upper midwestern
sections of the United States, evidence suggests that the current extent of tree cover probably
surpasses the figure for the beginning of the 20th century.
Extreme weather conditions in the last few years have resulted in a high level of soil erosion along
the north coast of California; in addition, the coastline itself has shifted substantially due to soil
erosion and concomitant landslides.
Agricultural pollution-including nitrate contamination of well water, nutrient runoff to waterways,
and pesticide exposure-is significant in various areas. Noteworthy among affected places are
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California's Central Valley, extensive stretches of the Midwest, and land in the Chesapeake Bay
watershed.
Inland waterways, especially around the Great Lakes, have substantially improved their water
quality, due to concentrated efforts at reducing water pollution by governmental, commercial and
community representatives. Strict curbs on industrial effluents and near-universal implementation
of sewage treatment are the chief factors responsible for this improvement.
A major environmental issue for Canada and the United States involves the depletion of various
already endangered or threatened species, and most significantly, the decline of fish stocks. Coastal
fisheries have been over-harvested, resulting in catch limits or moratoriums on many commercially
important fish species. In the last few years, these policies have started to yield measurable results
with decreasing trends in marine fish catch.
Due to the decay of neighboring ecosystems in Central America and the Caribbean, the sea
surrounding Florida has become increasingly sedimented, contributing to marine degradation,
nutrient depletion of the ecosystem, depletion of fish stocks, and diseases to coral species in
particular.
Polar Regions
Key Points:
The significant rise in sea level, amounting 10 to 25 centimeters in the last 100 years, is due to the
melting of the Arctic ice sheets, and is attributed to global warming.
The Antarctic suffers from a significant ozone hole, first detected in 1976. By 1985, a British
scientific team reported a 40 percent decrease in usual regeneration rates of the ozone. Because a
sustained increase in the amount of ultraviolet-B radiation would have adverse consequences upon
all planetary life, recent environmental measures have been put into effect, aimed at reversing
ozone depletion. These measures are projected to garner significant results by 2050.
Due to air and ocean currents, the Arctic is a sink for toxic releases originally discharged thousands
of miles away. Arctic wildlife and Canada's Inuit population have higher bodily levels of
contaminants such as PCB and dioxin than those found in people and animals in much of the rest
of the world.
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Global Environmental Concepts
1. Global Warming and Greenhouse Gases
The Greenhouse Effect:
In the early 19th century, the French physicist, Jean Fourier, contended that the earth's atmosphere
functions in much the same way as the glass of a greenhouse, thus describing what is now
understood as the "greenhouse effect." Put simply, the "greenhouse effect" confines some of the
sun's energy to the earth, preserving some of the planet's warmth, rather than allowing it to flow
back into space. In so doing, all kinds of life forms can flourish on earth. Thus, the "greenhouse
effect" is necessary to sustain and preserve life forms and ecosystems on earth.
In the late 19th century, a Swedish chemist, Svante Arrhenius, noticed that human activities, such
as the burning of coal and other fossil fuels for heat, and the removal of forested lands for urban
development, led to higher concentrations of greenhouse gases, like carbon dioxide and methane, in
the atmosphere. This increase in the levels of greenhouse gases was believed to advance the
"greenhouse effect" exponentially, and might be related to the trend in global warming.
In the wake of the Industrial Revolution, after industrial development took place on a large scale
and the total human population burgeoned simultaneously with industrialization, the resulting
increase in greenhouse gas emissions could, many scientists believe, be significant enough to have
some bearing on climate. Indeed, many studies in recent years support the idea that there is a
linkage between human activities and global warming, although there is less consensus on the
extent to which this linkage may be relevant to environmental concerns.
That said, some scientists have argued that temperature fluctuations have existed throughout the
evolution of the planet. Indeed, Dr. S. Fred Singer, the president of the Science and Environment
Policy Project has noted that 3,000-year-old geological records of ocean sediment reveal changes
in the surface temperature of the ocean. Hence, it is possible that climate variability is merely a
normal fact of the planet's evolution. Yet even skeptics as to anthropogenic factors concur that any
substantial changes in global temperatures would likely have an effect upon the earth's ecosystems,
as well as the life forms that inhabit them.
The Relationship Between Global Warming and Greenhouse Gases:
A large number of climatologists believe that the increase in atmospheric concentrations of
"greenhouse gas emissions," mostly a consequence of human activities such as the burning of fossil
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fuels, are contributing to global warming. The cause notwithstanding, the planet has reportedly
warmed 0.3°C to 0.6°C over the last century. Indeed, each year during the 1990s was one of the
very warmest in the 20th century, with the mean surface temperature for 1999 being the fifth
warmest on record since 1880.
In early 2000, a panel of atmospheric scientists for the National Research Council concluded in a
report that global warming was, indeed, a reality. While the panel, headed by Chairman John
Wallace, a professor of atmospheric sciences at the University of Washington, stated that it
remained unclear whether human activities have contributed to the earth's increasing temperatures,
it was apparent that global warming exists.
In 2001, following a request for further study by the incoming Bush administration in the United
States, the National Academy of Sciences again confirmed that global warming had been in
existence for the last 20 years. The study also projected an increase in temperature between 2.5
degrees and 10.4 degrees Fahrenheit by the year 2100. Furthermore, the study found the leading
cause of global warming to be emissions of carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels, and it
noted that greenhouse gas accumulations in the earth's atmosphere was a result of human activities.
Within the scientific community, the controversy regarding has centered on the difference between
surface air and upper air temperatures. Information collected since 1979 suggests that while the
earth's surface temperature has increased by about a degree in the past century, the atmospheric
temperature five miles above the earth's surface has indicated very little increase. Nevertheless, the
panel stated that this discrepancy in temperature between surface and upper air does not invalidate
the conclusion that global warming is taking place. Further, the panel noted that natural events,
such as volcanic eruptions, can decrease the temperature in the upper atmosphere.
The major consequences of global warming potentially include the melting of the polar ice caps,
which, in turn, contribute to the rise in sea levels. Many islands across the globe have already
experienced a measurable loss of land as a result. Because global warming may increase the rate of
evaporation, increased precipitation, in the form of stronger and more frequent storm systems, is
another potential outcome. Other consequences of global warming may include the introduction
and proliferation of new infectious diseases, loss of arable land (referred to as "desertification"),
destructive changes to existing ecosystems, loss of biodiversity and the isolation of species, and
concomitant adverse changes in the quality of human life.
International Policy Development in Regard to Global Warming:
Regardless of what the precise nature of the relationship between greenhouse gas emissions and
global warming may be, it seems that there is some degree of a connection between the
phenomena. Any substantial reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and global warming trends will
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likely involve systematic changes in industrial operations, the use of advanced energy sources and
technologies, as well as global cooperation in implementing and regulating these transformations.
In this regard, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
stipulated the following objectives:
1. To stabilize "greenhouse gas" concentrations within the atmosphere, in such a manner that
would preclude hazardous anthropogenic intervention into the existing biosphere and ecosystems of
the world. This stabilization process would facilitate the natural adaptation of ecosystems to
changes in climate.
2. To ensure and enable sustainable development and food production on a global scale.
*** See section on "International Environmental Agreements and Associations" for information
related to international policies related to limiting greenhouse gases and controlling climate change
emanating from historic summits at Kyoto, Copenhagen, Doha, and Paris. ***
2. Air Pollution
Long before global warming reared its head as a significant issue, those concerned about the
environment and public health noted the deleterious effects of human-initiated combustion upon
the atmosphere. Killer smogs from coal burning triggered acute health emergencies in London and
other places. At a lower level of intensity motor vehicle, power plant, and industrial emissions
impaired long-range visibility and probably had some chronic adverse consequences on the
respiratory systems of persons breathing such air.
In time, scientists began associating the sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides released from coal
burning with significant acid deposition in the atmosphere, eventually falling as "acid rain." This
phenomenon has severely degraded forestlands, especially in Europe and a few parts of the United
States. It has also impaired some aquatic ecosystems and eaten away the surface of some human
artifacts, such as marble monuments. Scrubber technology and conversion to cleaner fuels have
enabled the level of industrial production to remain at least constant while significantly reducing
acid deposition. Technologies aimed at cleaning the air and curtailing acid rain, soot, and smog
may, nonetheless, boomerang as the perils of global warming become increasingly serious. In brief,
these particulates act as sort of a sun shade -- comparable to the effect of volcanic eruptions on the
upper atmosphere whereby periods of active volcanism correlate with temporarily cooler weather
conditions. Thus, while the carbon dioxide releases that are an inevitable byproduct of combustion
continue, by scrubbing the atmosphere of pollutants, an industrial society opens itself to greater
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insolation (penetration of the sun's rays and consequent heating), and consequently, it is likely to
experience a correspondingly greater rise in ambient temperatures.
The health benefits of removing the sources of acid rain and smog are indisputable, and no one
would recommend a return to previous conditions. Nevertheless, the problematic climatic effects of
continually increasing emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases pose a major global
environmental challenge, not as yet addressed adequately.
3. Ozone Depletion
The stratospheric ozone layer functions to prevent ultraviolet radiation from reaching the earth.
Normally, stratospheric ozone is systematically disintegrated and regenerated through natural
photochemical processes. The stratospheric ozone layer, however, has been depleted unnaturally as
a result of anthropogenic (man-made) chemicals, most especially chlorine and bromide compounds
such as chloroflorocarbons (CFCs), halons, and various industrial chemicals in the form of
solvents, refrigerants, foaming agents, aerosol propellants, fire retardants, and fumigants. Ozone
depletion is of concern because it permits a greater degree of ultraviolet-B radiation to reach the
earth, which then increases the incidences of cancerous malignancies, cataracts, and human
immune deficiencies. In addition, even in small doses, ozone depletion affects the ecosystem by
disturbing food chains, agriculture, fisheries and other forms of biological diversity.
Transnational policies enacted to respond to the dangers of ozone depletion include the 1985
Vienna Convention on the Protection of the Ozone Layer and the 1987 Montreal Protocol on
Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. The Montreal Protocol was subsequently amended in
London in 1990, Copenhagen in 1992 and Vienna in 1995. By 1996, 155 countries had ratified the
Montreal Protocol, which sets out a time schedule for the reduction (and eventual elimination) of
ozone depleting substances (OPS), and bans exports and imports of ODS from and to nonparticipant countries.
In general, the Protocol stipulates that developed countries must eliminate halon consumption by
1994 and CFC consumption by 1996, while developing countries must eliminate these substances
by 2010. Consumption of methyl bromide, which is used as a fumigant, was to be frozen at the
1995 in developed countries, and fully eliminated in 2010, while developing countries are to freeze
consumption by 2002, based on average 1995-1998 consumption levels. Methyl chloroform is to
be phased out by 2005. Under the Montreal Protocol, most ODS will be completely eliminated
from use by 2010.
4. Land Degradation
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In recent decades, land degradation in more arid regions of the world has become a serious
concern. The problem, manifest as both "desertification" and "devegetation," is caused primarily by
climate variability and human activities, such as "deforestation," excessive cultivation, overgrazing,
and other forms of land resource exploitation. It is also exacerbated by inadequate irrigation
practices. Although the effects of droughts on drylands have been temporary in the past, today, the
productivity and sustainability of these lands have been severely compromised for the long term.
Indeed, in every region of the world, land degradation has become an acute issue.
Desertification and Devegetation:
"Desertification" is a process of land degradation causing the soil to deteriorate, thus losing its
nutrients and fertility, and eventually resulting in the loss of vegetation, known as "devegetation."
As aforementioned, "desertification" and "devegetation" are caused by human activities, yet human
beings are also the greatest casualties. Because these forms of land degradation affect the ability of
the soil to produce crops, they concomitantly contribute to poverty. As population increases and
demographic concentrations shift, the extent of land subject to stresses by those seeking to wrest
subsistence from it has inexorably risen.
In response, the United Nations has formed the Convention to Combat Desertification-aimed at
implementing programs to address the underlying causes of desertification, as well as measures to
prevent and minimize its effects. Of particular significance is the formulation of policies on
transboundary resources, such as areas around lakes and rivers. At a broader level, the Convention
has established a Conference of Parties (COP), which includes all ratifying governments, for
directing and advancing international action.
To ensure more efficacious use of funding, the Convention intends to reconfigure international aid
to utilize a consultative and coordinated approach in the disbursement and expenditure of donor
funds. In this way, local communities that are affected by desertification will be active participants
in the solution-generation process. In-depth community education projects are envisioned as part of
this new international aid program, and private donor financing is encouraged. Meanwhile, as new
technologies are developed to deal with the problem of desertification, they need to be distributed
for application across the world. Hence, the Convention calls for international cooperation in
scientific research in this regard.
Desertification is a problem of sustainable development. It is directly connected to human
challenges such as poverty, social and economic well-being and environmental protection as well.
Broader environmental issues, such as climate change, biological diversity, and freshwater supplies,
are indirectly related, so any effort to resolve this environmental challenge must entail coordinated
research efforts and joint action.
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Deforestation:
Deforestation is not a recent phenomenon. For centuries, human beings have cut down trees to
clear space for land cultivation, or in order to use the wood for fuel. Over the last 200 years, and
most especially after World War II, deforestation increased because the logging industry became a
globally profitable endeavor, and so the clearing of forested areas was accelerated for the purposes
of industrial development. In the long term, this intensified level of deforestation is considered
problematic because the forest is unable to regenerate itself quickly. The deforestation that has
occurred in tropical rainforests is seen as an especially serious concern, due to the perceived
adverse effects of this process upon the entire global ecosystem.
The most immediate consequence of deforestation is soil degradation. Soil, which is necessary for
the growth of vegetation, can be a fragile and vital property. Organically, an extensive evolution
process must take place before soil can produce vegetation, yet at the same time, the effects of
natural elements, such as wind and rain, can easily and quickly degrade this resource. This
phenomenon is known as soil erosion. In addition, natural elements like wind and rain reduce the
amount of fertile soil on the ground, making soil scarcity a genuine problem. When fertile topsoil
that already exists is removed from the landscape in the process of deforestation, soil scarcity is
further exacerbated. Equally significant is the fact that once land has been cleared so that the
topsoil can be cultivated for crop production, not only are the nutrient reserves in the soil depleted,
thus producing crops of inferior quality, but the soil structure itself becomes stressed and
deteriorates further.
Another direct result of deforestation is flooding. When forests are cleared, removing the cover of
vegetation, and rainfall occurs, the flow of water increases across the surface of land. When
extensive water runoff takes place, the frequency and intensity of flooding increases. Other adverse
effects of deforestation include the loss of wildlife and biodiversity within the ecosystem that
supports such life forms.
At a broader level, tropical rainforests play a vital role in maintaining the global environmental
system. Specifically, destruction of tropical rainforests affects the carbon dioxide cycle. When
forests are destroyed by burning (or rotting), carbon dioxide is released into the air, thus
contributing to an intensified "greenhouse effect." The increase in greenhouse gas emissions like
carbon dioxide is a major contributor to global warming, according to many environmental
scientists. Indeed, trees themselves absorb carbon dioxide in the process of photosynthesis, so their
loss also reduces the absorption of greenhouse gases.
Tropical rainforest destruction also adversely affects the nitrogen cycle. Nitrogen is a key nutrient
for both plants and animals. Plants derive nitrogen from soil, while animals obtain it via nitrogenenriched vegetation. This element is essential for the formation of amino acids, and thereby for
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proteins and biochemicals that all living things need for metabolism and growth. In the nitrogen
cycle, vegetation acquires these essential proteins and biochemicals, and then cyclically returns
them to the atmosphere and global ecosystem. Accordingly, when tropical rainforest ecosystems
are compromised, not only is vegetation removed; the atmosphere is also affected and climates are
altered. At a more immediate level, the biodiversity within tropical rainforests, including wildlife
and insect species and a wealth of plant varieties, is depleted. Loss of rare plants is of particular
concern because certain species as yet unknown and unused could likely yield many practical
benefits, for instance as medicines.
As a result of the many challenges associated with deforestation, many environmental groups and
agencies have argued for government policies on the sustainable development of forests by
governments across the globe. While many countries have instituted national policies and programs
aimed at reducing deforestation, and substantial research has been advanced in regard to
sustainable and regenerative forestry development, there has been very little progress on an
international level. Generally speaking, most tropical rainforests are located in developing and less
developed countries, where economic growth is often dependent upon the exploitation of tropical
rainforests. Timber resources as well as wildlife hunting tend to be particularly lucrative arenas.
In places such as the Amazon, where deforestation takes place for the construction of energy
plants aimed at industrialization and economic development, there is an exacerbated effect on the
environment. After forests are cleared in order to construct such projects, massive flooding usually
ensues. The remaining trees then rot and decay in the wake of the flooding. As the trees
deteriorate, their biochemical makeup becomes more acidic, producing poisonous substances such
as hydrogen sulphide and methane gases. Acidified water subsequently corrodes the mechanical
equipment and operations of the plants, which are already clogged by rotting wood after the
floodwaters rise.
Deforestation generally arises from an economically plausible short-term motivation, but
nonetheless poses a serious global concern because the effects go beyond national boundaries. The
United Nations has established the World Commission on Forest and Sustainable Development.
This body's task is to determine the optimal means of dealing with the issue of deforestation,
without unduly affecting normal economic development, while emphasizing the global significance
of protecting tropical forest ecosystems.
5. Water Resources
For all terrestrial fauna, including humans, water is the most immediate necessity to sustain life. As
the population has increased and altered an ever-greater portion of the landscape from its natural
condition, demand on water resources has intensified, especially with the development of
industrialization and large-scale irrigation. The supply of freshwater is inherently limited, and
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moreover distributed unevenly across the earth's landmasses. Moreover, not just demand for
freshwater but activities certain to degrade it are becoming more pervasive. By contrast, the oceans
form a sort of "last wilderness," still little explored and in large part not seriously affected by
human activity. However, coastal environments - the biologically richest part of the marine
ecosystem-are experiencing major depletion due to human encroachment and over-exploitation.
Freshwater:
In various regions, for instance the Colorado River in the western United States, current
withdrawals of river water for irrigation, domestic, and industrial use consume the entire
streamflow so that almost no water flows into the sea at the river's mouth. Yet development is
ongoing in many such places, implying continually rising demand for water. In some areas reliant
on groundwater, aquifers are being depleted at a markedly faster rate than they are being
replenished. An example is the San Joaquin Valley in California, where decades of high water
withdrawals for agriculture have caused land subsidence of ten meters or more in some spots.
Naturally, the uncertainty of future water supplies is particularly acute in arid and semi-arid regions.
Speculation that the phenomenon of global warming will alter geographic and seasonal rainfall
patterns adds further uncertainty.
Water conservation measures have great potential to alleviate supply shortages. Some city water
systems are so old and beset with leaking pipes that they lose as much water as they meter. Broadscale irrigation could be replaced by drip-type irrigation, actually enhancing the sustainability of
agriculture. In many areas where heavy irrigation has been used for decades, the result is
deposition of salts and other chemicals in the soil such that the land becomes unproductive for
farming and must be abandoned.
Farming is a major source of water pollution. Whereas restrictions on industrial effluents and other
"point sources" are relatively easy to implement, comparable measures to reform hydraulic
practices at farms and other "nonpoint sources" pose a significantly knottier challenge. Farmcaused water pollution takes the following main forms:
- Nitrate pollution found in wells in intensive farming areas as a consequence of heavy fertilizer use
is a threat to human health. The most serious danger is to infants, who by ingesting high-nitrate
water can contract methemoglobinemia, sometimes called "blue baby syndrome," a potentially fatal
condition.
- Fertilizer runoff into rivers and lakes imparts unwanted nutrients that cause algae growth and
eventual loss of oxygen in the body of water, degrading its ability to support fish and other
desirable aquatic life.
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- Toxic agricultural chemicals - insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides - are detectable in some
aquifers and waterways.
In general, it is much easier to get a pollutant into water than to retrieve it out. Gasoline additives,
dry cleaning chemicals, other industrial toxins, and in a few areas radionucleides have all been
found in water sources intended for human use. The complexity and long time scale of
subterranean hydrological movements essentially assures that pollutants already deposited in
aquifers will continue to turn up for decades to come. Sophisticated water treatment processes are
available, albeit expensive, to reclaim degraded water and render it fit for human consumption. Yet
source protection is unquestionably a more desirable alternative.
In much of the developing world, and even some low-income rural enclaves of the developed
world, the population lacks ready access to safe water. Surface water and shallow groundwater
supplies are susceptible to contamination from untreated wastewater and failing septic tanks, as
well as chemical hazards. The occurrence of waterborne disease is almost certainly greatly
underreported.
Marine Resources:
Coastal areas have always been desirable places for human habitation, and population pressure on
them continues to increase. Many types of water degradation that affect lakes and rivers also affect
coastal zones: industrial effluents, untreated or partially treated sewage, nutrient load from
agriculture figure prominently in both cases. Prospects for more extreme storms as a result of
global warming, as well as the pervasiveness of poorly planned development in many coastal areas,
forebode that catastrophic hurricanes and landslides may increase in frequency in the future.
Ongoing rise in sea levels will force remedial measures and in some cases abandonment of
currently valuable coastal property.
Fisheries over much of the globe have been overharvested, and immediate conservation measures
are required to preserve stocks of many species. Many governments subsidized factory-scale
fishing fleets in the 1970s and 1980s, and the resultant catch increase evidently surpassed a
sustainable level. It is uncertain how much of the current decline in fish stocks stems from
overharvesting and how much from environmental pollution. The deep ocean remains relatively
unaffected by human activity, but continental shelves near coastlines are frequently seriously
polluted, and these close-to-shore areas are the major biological nurseries for food fish and the
smaller organisms they feed on.
6. Environmental Toxins
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Toxic chemical pollution exploded on the public consciousness with disclosure of spectacularly
polluted industrial areas such as Love Canal near Buffalo, New York. There is no question that
pollutants such as organophosphates or radionucleides can be highly deleterious to health, but
evidence to date suggests that seriously affected areas are a localized rather than universal problem.
While some explore the possibilities for a lifestyle that fully eschews use of modern industrial
chemicals, the most prevalent remediative approach is to focus on more judicious use. The most
efficient chemical plants are now able to contain nearly all toxic byproducts of their production
processes within the premises, minimizing the release of such substances into the environment.
Techniques such as Integrated Pest Management (IPM) dictate limited rather than broadcast use of
pesticides: application only when needed using the safest available chemical, supplemented as
much as possible with nontoxic controls.
While heightened public awareness and growing technical sophistication suggest a hopeful outlook
on limiting the damage from manmade environmental toxins, one must grant that previous incidents
of their misuse and mishandling have already caused environmental damage that will have to be
dealt with for many years to come. In the case of the most hazardous radioactive substances, the
time scale for successful remediation actually extends beyond that of the recorded history of
civilization. Moreover, in this era of high population density and rapid economic growth, quotidian
activities such as the transport of chemicals will occasionally, seemingly inevitably result in
accidents with adverse environmental consequences.
7. "Islandization" and Biodiversity
With increased awareness regarding the adverse effects of unregulated hunting and habitat
depletion upon wildlife species and other aspects of biodiversity, large-scale efforts across the globe
have been initiated to reduce and even reverse this trend.
In every region of the world, many species of wildlife and areas of biodiversity have been saved
from extinction. Nationally, many countries have adopted policies aimed at preservation and
conservation of species, and one of the most tangible measures has been the proliferation of
protected habitats. Such habitats exist in the form of wildlife reserves, marine life reserves, and
other such areas where biodiversity can be protected from external encroachment and exploitation.
Despite these advances in wildlife and biodiversity protection, further and perhaps more intractable
challenges linger. Designated reserves, while intended to prevent further species decline, exist as
closed territories, fragmented from other such enclaves and disconnected from the larger
ecosystem. This environmental scenario is referred to as "islandization." Habitat reserves often
serve as oversized zoos or game farms, with landscapes and wildlife that have effectively been
"tamed" to suit. Meanwhile, the larger surrounding ecosystem continues to be seriously degraded
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and transformed, while within the islandized habitat, species that are the focus of conservation
efforts may not have sufficient range and may not be able to maintain healthy genetic variability.
As a consequence, many conservationists and preservationists have demanded that substantially
larger portions of land be withheld as habitat reserves, and a network of biological corridors to
connect continental reserves be established. While such efforts to combat islandization have
considerable support in the United States, how precisely such a program would be instituted,
especially across national boundaries, remains a matter of debate. International conservationists
and preservationists say without a network of reserves a massive loss of biodiversity will result.
The concept of islandization illustrates why conservation and preservation of wildlife and
biodiversity must consider and adopt new, broader strategies. In the past, conservation and
preservation efforts have been aimed at specific species, such as the spotted owl and grizzly bear in
North America, the Bengal tiger in Southeast Asia, the panda in China, elephants in Africa. Instead,
the new approach is to simultaneously protect many and varied species that inhabit the same
ecosystem. This method, referred to as "bio-regional conservation," may more efficaciously
generate longer-term and more far-reaching results precisely because it is aimed at preserving entire
ecosystems, and all the living things within.
More About Biodiversity Issues:
This section is directly taken from the United Nations Environmental Program: "Biodiversity
Assessment"
The Global Biodiversity Assessment, completed by 1500 scientists under the auspices of United
Nations Environmental Program in 1995, updated what is known (or unknown) about global
biological diversity at the ecosystem, species and genetic levels. The assessment was uncertain of
the total number of species on Earth within an order of magnitude. Of its working figure of 13
million species, only 13 percent are scientifically described. Ecological community diversity is also
poorly known, as is its relationship to biological diversity, and genetic diversity has been studied for
only a small number of species. The effects of human activities on biodiversity have increased so
greatly that the rate of species extinctions is rising to hundreds or thousands of times the
background level. These losses are driven by increasing demands on species and their habitats, and
by the failure of current market systems to value biodiversity adequately. The Assessment calls for
urgent action to reverse these trends.
There has been a new recognition of the importance of protecting marine and aquatic biodiversity.
The first quantitative estimates of species losses due to growing coral reef destruction predict that
almost 200,000 species, or one in five presently contributing to coral reef biodiversity, could die
out in the next 40 years if human pressures on reefs continue to increase.
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Since Rio, many countries have improved their understanding of the status and importance of their
biodiversity, particularly through biodiversity country studies such as those prepared under the
auspices of UNEP/GEF. The United Kingdom identified 1250 species needing monitoring, of
which 400 require action plans to ensure their survival. Protective measures for biodiversity, such
as legislation to protect species, can prove effective. In the USA, almost 40 percent of the plants
and animals protected under the Endangered Species Act are now stable or improving as a direct
result of recovery efforts. Some African countries have joined efforts to protect threatened species
through the 1994 Lusaka Agreement, and more highly migratory species are being protected by
specialized cooperative agreements among range states under the Bonn Agreement.
There is an emerging realization that a major part of conservation of biological diversity must take
place outside of protected areas and involve local communities. The extensive agricultural areas
occupied by small farmers contain much biodiversity that is important for sustainable food
production. Indigenous agricultural practices have been and continue to be important elements in
the maintenance of biodiversity, but these are being displaced and lost. There is a new focus on the
interrelationship between agrodiversity conservation and sustainable use and development practices
in smallholder agriculture, with emphasis on use of farmers' knowledge and skills as a source of
information for sustainable farming.
Perhaps even more important than the loss of biodiversity is the transformation of global
biogeochemical cycles, the reduction in the total world biomass, and the decrease in the biological
productivity of the planet. While quantitative measurements are not available, the eventual
economic and social consequences may be so significant that the issue requires further attention.
******
Specific sources used for this section:
Bendall, Roger. 1996. "Biodiversity: the follow up to Rio". The Globe 30:4-5, April 1996.
Global Environmental Change: Human and Policy Implications. 1995. Special issue on "People,
Land Management and Environmental Change", Vol. 3, No. 4, September 1995.
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Golubev, Genady N. (Moscow University) In litt. 29 June 1996.
Heywood, V.H. (ed.). 1995. Global Biodiversity Assessment. United Nations Environment
Programme. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
Heywood, V.H. 1996. "The Global Biodiversity Assessment". The Globe, 30:2-4, April 1996.
Reaka-Kudla, Marjorie. 1996. Paper presented at American Association for Advancement of
Science, February 1996. Quoted in Pain, Stephanie. "Treasures lost in reef madness". New
Scientist, 17 February 1996.
Uitto, Juha I., and Akiko Ono (eds). 1996. Population, Land Management and Environmental
Change. The United Nations University, Tokyo.
USFWS. 1994. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service report to Congress, cited in news release 21 July
1994.
Online resources used generally in the Environmental Overview:
Environmental Protection Agency Global Warming Site. URL: http://www.epa.gov/globalwarming
Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations: Forestry. URL:
http://www.fao.org/forestry/site/sofo/en/
Global Warming Information Page. URL: http://globalwarming.org
U n i t e d N a t i o n s E n v i r o n m e n t a l
http://www.unep.org/GEO/GEO_Products/Assessment_Reports/
P r o g r a m .
U R L :
United Nations Global Environmental Outlook. URL: http://www.unep.org/geo/geo4/media/
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Note on Edition Dates:
The edition dates for textual resources are noted above because they were used to formulate the
original content. We also have used online resources (cited above) to update coverage as needed.
Information Resources
For more information about environmental concepts, CountryWatch recommends the following
resources:
The United Nations Environmental Program Network (with country profiles)
<http://www.unep.net/>
The United Nations Environment Program on Climate Change
<http://climatechange.unep.net/>
The United Nations Environmental Program on Waters and Oceans
<http://www.unep.ch/earthw/Pdepwat.htm>
The United Nations Environmental Program on Forestry: "Forests in Flux"
<http://www.unep-wcmc.org/forest/flux/homepage.htm>
FAO "State of the World's Forests"
<http://www.fao.org/forestry/FO/SOFO/SOFO99/sofo99-e.stm>
World Resources Institute.
<http://www.wri.org/>
Harvard University Center for Health and the Global Environment
<http://www.med.harvard.edu/chge/the-review.html>
The University of Wisconsin Center for Sustainability and the Global Environment
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http://sage.aos.wisc.edu/
International Environmental Agreements and Associations
International Policy Development in Regard to Global Warming:
Introduction
Regardless of what the precise nature of the relationship between greenhouse gas emissions and
global warming may be, it seems that there is some degree of a connection between the
phenomena. Any substantial reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and global warming trends will
likely involve systematic changes in industrial operations, the use of advanced energy sources and
technologies, as well as global cooperation in implementing and regulating these transformations.
In this regard, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
stipulated the following objectives:
1. To stabilize "greenhouse gas" concentrations within the atmosphere, in such a manner that
would preclude hazardous anthropogenic intervention into the existing biosphere and ecosystems of
the world. This stabilization process would facilitate the natural adaptation of ecosystems to
changes in climate.
2. To ensure and enable sustainable development and food production on a global scale.
Following are two discusssions regarding international policies on the environment, followed by
listings of international accords.
Special Entry: The Kyoto Protocol
The UNFCCC was adopted at the Rio Earth Summit in 1992, and entered into force in 1994. Over
175 parties were official participants.
Meanwhile, however, many of the larger, more industrialized nations failed to reach the emissions'
reduction targets, and many UNFCCC members agreed that the voluntary approach to reducing
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emissions had not been successful. As such, UNFCCC members reached a consensus that legally
binding limits were necessitated, and agreed to discuss such a legal paradigm at a meeting in Kyoto,
Japan in 1997. At that meeting, the UNFCCC forged the Kyoto Protocol. This concord is the first
legally binding international agreement that places limits on emissions from industrialized countries.
The major greenhouse gas emissions addressed in the Kyoto Protocol include carbon dioxide,
nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, sulfur hexafluoride, and methane.
The provisions of the Kyoto Protocol stipulate that economically advanced nations must reduce
their combined emissions of greenhouse gases, by approximately five percent from their 1990
levels, before the 2008-2010 deadline. Countries with the highest carbon dioxide emissions, such as
the United States (U.S.), many of the European Union (EU) countries, and Japan, are to reduce
emissions by a scale of 6 to 8 percent. All economically advanced nations must show
"demonstrable progress" by 2005. In contrast, no binding limits or timetable have been set on
developing countries. Presumably, this distinction is due to the fact that most developing countries - with the obvious exceptions of India and China -- simply do not emit as many greenhouse gases
as do more industrially advanced countries. Meanwhile, these countries are entrenched in the
process of economic development.
Regardless of the aforementioned reasoning, there has been strong opposition against the
asymmetrical treatment assigned to emissions limits among developed and developing countries.
Although this distinction might be regarded as unfair in principle, associations such as the Alliance
of Small Island States have been vocal in expressing how global warming -- a result of greenhouse
gas emissions - has contributed to the rise in sea level, and thus deleteriously affected their very
existence as island nation states. For this reason, some parties have suggested that economically
advanced nations, upon returning to their 1990 levels, should be required to further reduce their
greenhouse gas emissions by a deadline of 2005. In response, interested parties have observed that
even if such reductions were undertaken by economically advanced nations, they would not be
enough to completely control global warming. Indeed, a reduction in the rate of fossil fuel usage by
developing nations would also be necessary to have substantial ameliorative effect on global
warming. Indeed, a reduction in the rate of fossil fuel usage by developing nations would also be
necessary to have substantial ameliorative effect on global warming.
As such, the Protocol established a "Clean Development Mechanism" which permits developed
countries to invest in projects aimed at reducing emissions within developing countries in return for
credit for the reductions. Ostensibly, the objective of this mechanism is to curtail emissions in
developing countries without unduly penalizing them for their economic development. Under this
model, the countries with more potential emissions credits could sell them to other signatories of
the Kyoto Protocol, whose emissions are forecast to significantly rise in the next few years. Should
this trading of emissions credits take place, it is estimated that the Kyoto Protocol's emissions
targets could still be met.
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In 1999, the International Energy Outlook projected that Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union
and Newly Independent States, as well as parts of Asia, are all expected to show a marked
decrease in their level of energy-related carbon emissions in 2010. Nations with the highest
emissions, specifically, the U.S., the EU and Japan, are anticipated to reduce their emissions by up
to 8 percent by 2012. By 2000, however, the emissions targets were not on schedule for
achievement. Indeed, the U.S. Department of Energy estimates forecast that by 2010, there will be
a 34 percent increase in carbon emissions from the 1990 levels, in the absence of major shifts in
policy, economic growth, energy prices, and consumer trends. Despite this assessment in the U.S.,
international support for the Kyoto Protocol remained strong, especially among European countries
and island states, who view the pact as one step in the direction away from reliance on fossil fuels
and other sources of greenhouse gases.
In 2001, U.S. President, George W. Bush, rejected his country's participation in the Kyoto
Protocol, saying that the costs imposed on the global economic system, and especially, on the US,
overshadowed the benefits of the Protocol. He also cited the unfair burden on developed nations to
reduce emissions, as another primary reasons for withdrawal from the international pact, as well as
insufficient evidence regarding the science of global warming. Faced with impassioned international
disapproval for his position, the U.S. president stated that his administration remained interested in
dealing with the matter of global warming, but would endorse alternative measures to combat the
problem, such as voluntary initiatives limiting emissions. Critics of Bush's position, however, have
noted that it was the failure of voluntary initiatives to reduce emissions following the Rio Summit
that led to the establishment of the Kyoto Protocol in the first place.
In the wake of the Bush administration's decision, many participant countries resigned themselves
to the reality that the goals of the Kyoto Protocol might not be achieved without U.S. involvement.
Nevertheless, in Bonn, Germany, in July 2001, the remaining participant countries struck a political
compromise on some of the key issues and sticking points, and planned to move forward with the
Protocol, irrespective of the absence of the U.S. The key compromise points included the
provision for countries to offset their targets with carbon sinks (these are areas of forest and
farmland which can absorb carbon through the process of photosynthesis). Another compromise
point within the broader Bonn Agreement was the reduction of emissions cuts of six gases from
over 5 percent to a more achievable 2 percent. A third key change was the provision of funding for
less wealthy countries to adopt more progressive technologies.
In late October and early November 2001, the UNFCC's 7th Conference of the Parties met in
Marrakesh, Morocco, to finalize the measures needed to make the Kyoto Protocol operational.
Although the UNFCC projected that ratification of the Protocol would make it legally binding
within a year, many critics noted that the process had fallen short of implementing significant
changes in policy that would be necessary to actually stop or even slow climate change. They also
maintained that the absence of U.S. participation effectively rendered the Protocol into being a
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political exercise without any substance, either in terms of transnational policy or in terms of
environmental concerns.
The adoption of the compromises ensconced within the Bonn Agreement had been intended to
make the provisions of the Kyoto Protocol more palatable to the U.S. In this regard, it failed to
achieve its objective as the Bush administration continued to eschew participation in the
international accord. Still, however, the Bonn Agreement did manage to render a number of other
positive outcomes. Specifically, in 2002, key countries, such as Russia, Japan and Canada agreed
to ratify the protocol, bringing the number of signatories to 178. The decision by key countries to
ratify the protocol was regarded as "the kiss of life" by observers.
By 2005, on the eve of a climate change conference in London, British Prime Minister Tony Blair
was hoping to deal with the problems of climate change beyond the provisions set forth in the
Kyoto Protocol. Acknowledging that the Kyoto Protocol could not work in its current form, Blair
wanted to open the discussion for a new climate change plan.
Blair said that although most of the world had signed on to Kyoto, the protocol could not meet any
of its practical goals of cutting greenhouse gas emissions without the participation of the United
States, the world's largest polluter. He also noted that any new agreement would have to include
India and China -- significant producers of greenhouse gas emissions, but exempt from Kyoto
because they have been classified as developing countries. Still, he said that progress on dealing
with climate change had been stymied by "a reluctance to face up to reality and the practical action
needed to tackle problem."
Blair also touted the "huge opportunities" in technology and pointed toward the possibilities offered
by wind, solar and nuclear power, along with fuel cell technology, eco-friendly biofuels, and
carbon capture and storage which could generate low carbon power. Blair also asserted that his
government was committed to achieving its domestic goal of reducing carbon dioxide emissions by
20 percent by 2010.
In the United States, President George W. Bush has said that global warming remained a debatable
issue and despite conclusions reached by his own Environmental Protection Agency, he has not
agreed with the conclusion that global warming and climate change are linked with human
activities. Bush has also refused to ratify Kyoto on the basis of its economic costs.
Australia, an ally of the United States, has taken a similarly dim view of the Kyoto Protocol.
Ahead of the November 2005 climate change meeting in Canada in which new goals for the
protocol were to be discussed, Australia 's Environment Minister, Ian Campbell, said that
negotiating new greenhouse gas emission levels for the Kyoto Protocol would be a waste of time.
Campbell said, "There is a consensus that the caps, targets and timetables approach is flawed. If
we spend the next five years arguing about that, we'll be fiddling and negotiating while Rome
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burns." Campbell, like the Bush administration, has also advocated a system of voluntary action
in which industry takes up new technologies rather than as a result of compelling the reduction of
emissions. But the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) has called on its government to
ratify the Kyoto Protocol, to establish a system of emissions trading, and to set binding limits on
emissions. Interestingly, although it did not sign on to Kyoto , Australia was expected to meet its
emissions target by 2012 (an 8 percent increase in 1990 levels in keeping with the country's
reliance on coal). But this success has nothing to do with new technologies and is due to statebased regulations on land clearing.
Note: The Kyoto Protocol calls for developed nations to cut greenhouse emissions by 5.2 percent
of 1990 levels by 2012.
Special Entry: Climate Change Summit in Copenhagen (2009) -In December 2009, the United Nations Climate Change Summit opened in the Danish capital of
Copenhagen. The summit was scheduled to last from Dec. 7-18, 2009. Delegates from more than
190 countries were in attendance, and approximately 100 world leaders, including British Prime
Minister Gordon Brown and United States President Barack Obama, were expected to participate.
At issue was the matter of new reductions targets on greenhouse gas emissions by 2020.
Despite earlier fears that little concurrence would come from the conference, effectively pushing
significant actions forward to a 2010 conference in Mexico City, negotiators were now reporting
that the talks were productive and several key countries, such as South Africa, had pledged to
reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The two main issues that could still lead to cleavages were
questions of agreement between the industrialized countries and the developing countries of the
world, as well as the overall effectiveness of proposals in seriously addressing the perils of climate
change.
On Dec. 9, 2009, four countries -- the United Kingdom, Australia, Mexico and Norway - presented a document outlining ideas for raising and managing billions of dollars, which would be
intended to help vulnerable countries dealing with the perils of climate change. Described as a
"green fund," the concept could potentially help small island states at risk because of the rise in sea
level. Bangladesh identified itself as a potential recipient of an assistance fund, noting that as a
country plagued by devastating floods, it was particularly hard-hit by climate change. The "green
fund" would fall under the rubric of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change, for which developed countries have been committed to quantifying their emission
reduction targets, and also to providing financial and technical support to developing countries.
The United Kingdom, Australia, Mexico and Norway also called for the creation of a new legal
treaty that would replace the Kyoto Protocol. This new treaty, which could go into force in 2012,
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would focus largely on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2020. But Australia went
even further in saying that the successor treaty to the Kyoto Protocol, should be one with
provisions covering all countries. Such a move would be a departure from the structure of the
Kyoto Protocol, which contained emissions targets for industrialized countries due to the prevailing
view that developed countries had a particular historic responsibility to be accountable for climate
change. More recently, it has become apparent that substantial reductions in greenhouse gas
emissions demanded by scientists would only come to pass with the participation also of significant
developing nation states, such as China and India. Indeed, one of the most pressing critiques of the
Kyoto Protocol was that it was a "paper tiger" that failed to address the impact of the actions of
emerging economies like China and India, with its focus on the developed economies.
Now, in 2009, China -- as the world's biggest greenhouse gas emitter -- was responding this
dubious distinction by vocalizing its criticism of the current scenario and foregrounding its new
commitments. Ahead of the Copenhagen summit, China had announced it would reduce the
intensity of its carbon emissions per unit of its GDP in 2020 by 40 to 45 percent against 2005
levels. With that new commitment at hand, China was now accusing the United States and the
European Union of shirking their own responsibilities by setting weak targets for greenhouse gas
emissions cuts. Senior Chinese negotiator, Su Wei, characterized the goals of the world's second
largest greenhouse gas emitter -- the United States -- as "not notable," and the European Union's
target as "not enough." Su Wei also took issue with Japan for setting implausible preconditions.
On Dec. 11, 2009, China demanded that developed and wealthy countries in Copenhagen should
help deliver a real agreement on climate change by delivering on their promises to reduce carbon
emissions and provide financial support for developing countries to adapt to global warming. In so
doing, China's Vice Foreign Minister He Yafei said his country was hoping that a "balanced
outcome" would emerge from the discussions at the summit. Echoing the position of the Australian
government, He Yafei spoke of a draft agreement as follows: "The final document we're going to
adopt needs to be taking into account the needs and aspirations of all countries, particularly the
most vulnerable ones."
China's Vice Foreign Minister emphasized the fact that climate change was "a matter of survival"
for developing countries, and accordingly, such countries need wealthier and more developed
countries to accentuate not only their pledges of emissions reduction targets, but also their financial
commitments under the aforementioned United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change. To that end, scientists and leaders of small island states in the Indian Ocean, the Pacific
Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, have highlighted the existential threat posed by global warming and
the concomitant rise in sea level.
China aside, attention was also on India -- another major player in the developing world and a
country with an industrializing economy that was impacting the environment. At issue was the
Indian government's decision to set a carbon intensity target, which would slow emissions growth
by up to 25 percent by the 2020 deadline. This strong position was resisted by some elements in
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India, who argued that their country should not be taking such a strong position when developed
wealthy countries were yet to show accountability for their previous commitments to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions. The matter grew so heated that the members of the opposition stormed
out of the parliament in protest as Indian Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh defended the
policy. But the political pressure at home in India was leaving the Indian delegation in Copenhagen
in a state of chaos as well. In fact, India's top environmental negotiator refused to travel to
Copenhagen in protest of the government's newly-announced stance.
China and India were joined by Brazil and South Africa in the crafting of a draft document calling
for a new global climate treaty to be completed by June 2010. Of concern has been the realization
that there was insufficient time to find concurrence on a full legal treaty, which would leave
countries only with a politically-binding text by the time the summit at Copenhagen closed. But
Guyana's leader, President Bharrat Jagdeo, warned that the summit in Denmark would be
classified as a failure unless a binding document was agreed upon instead of just political
consensus. He urged his cohorts to act with purpose saying, "Never before have science,
economics, geo-strategic self-interest and politics intersected in such a way on an issue that impacts
everyone on the planet."
Likewise, Tuvalu demanded that legally binding agreements emerge from Copenhagen. Its
proposal was supported by many of the vulnerable countries, from small island states and subSaharan Africa, all of whom warned of the catastrophic impact of climate change on their
citizens. Tuvalu also called for more aggressive action, such as an amendment to the 1992
agreement, which would focus on sharp greenhouse gas emissions and the accepted rise in
temperatures, due to the impact the rise in seas. The delegation from Kiribati joined the call by
drawing attention to the fact that one village had to be abandoned due to waist-high water, and
more such effects were likely to follow. Kiribati's Foreign Secretary, Tessie Lambourne, warned
that the people of Kiribati could well be faced with no homeland in the future saying, "Nobody in
this room would want to leave their homeland." But despite such impassioned pleas and
irrespective of warnings from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change that the rise in sea
level from melting polar ice caps would deleteriously affect low-lying atolls such as such as Tuvalu
and Kiribati in the Pacific, and the Maldives in the Indian Ocean, the oil-giant Saudi Arabia was
able to block this move.
Meanwhile, within the developed countries, yet another power struggle was brewing. The
European Union warned it would only agree to raise its target of 20 percent greenhouse gas
emissions reductions to 30 percent if the United States demonstrated that it would do more to
reduce its own emissions. It was unknown if such pressure would yield results. United States
President Barack Obama offered a "provisional" 2020 target of 17 percent reductions, noting that
he could not offer greater concessions at Copenhagen due to resistance within the United States
Congress, which was already trying to pass a highly controversial "cap and trade" emissions
legislation. However, should that emissions trading bill fail in the Senate, the United States
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Environment Protection Agency's declaration that greenhouse gases pose a danger to human health
and the environment was expected to facilitate further regulations and limits on power plants and
factories at the national level. These moves could potentially strengthen the Obama
administration's offering at Copenhagen. As well, President Obama also signaled that he would be
willing to consider the inclusion of international forestry credits.
Such moves indicated willingness by the Obama administration to play a more constructive role on
the international environmental scene than its predecessor, the Bush administration. Indeed, ahead
of his arrival at the Copenhagen summit, President Barack Obama's top environmental advisors
promised to work on a substantial climate change agreement. To that end, United States
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson said at a press conference, "We are
seeking robust engagement with all of our partners around the world." But would this proengagement assertion yield actual results?
By Dec. 12, 2009, details related to a draft document prepared by Michael Zammit Cutajar, the
head of the Ad-hoc Working Group on Long-Term Cooperative Action, were released at the
Copenhagen climate conference. Included in the document were calls for countries to make major
reductions in carbon emissions over the course of the next decade. According to the Washington
Post, industrialized countries were called on to make cuts of between 25 percent and 40 percent
below 1990 levels -- reductions that were far more draconian than the United States was likely to
accept. As discussed above, President Obama had offered a provisional reduction target of 17
percent. The wide gap between the released draft and the United States' actual stated position
suggested there was much more negotiating in the offing if a binding agreement could be forged,
despite the Obama administration's claims that it was seeking greater engagement on this issue.
In other developments, the aforementioned call for financial support of developing countries to deal
with the perils of climate change was partly answered by the European Union on Dec. 11, 2009.
The European bloc pledged an amount of 2.4 billion euros (US$3.5 billion) annually from 2010 to
2012. Environment Minister Andreas Carlgren of Sweden -- the country that holds the rotating
presidency of the European Union at the time of the summit -- put his weight behind the notion of
a "legally binding deal." Meanwhile, Yvo de Boer, a top United Nations climate change official,
focused less on the essence of the agreement and more on tangible action and effects saying,
"Copenhagen will only be a success if it delivers significant and immediate action that begins the
day the conference ends."
The division between developed and developing countries in Copenhagen reached new heights on
Dec. 14, 2009, when some of the poor and less developed countries launched a boycott at the
summit. The move, which was spurred by African countries but backed by China and India,
appeared to be geared toward redirecting attention and primary responsibility to the wealthier and
more industrialized countries. The impasse was resolved after the wealthier and more
industrialized countries offered assurances that they did not intend on shirking from their
commitments to reducing greenhouse gases. As a result, the participating countries ceased the
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boycott.
Outside the actual summit, thousands of protestors had gathered to demand crucial global
warming, leading to clashes between police and demonstrators elsewhere in the Danish capital city.
There were reports of scattered violence across Copenhagen and more than 1,000 people were
arrested.
Nevertheless, by the second week of the climate change summit, hopes of forging a strong deal
were eroding as developed and developing nations remained deadlocked on sharing cuts in
greenhouse gases, and particularly on the matters of financing and temperature goals. In a bid to
shore up support for a new climate change, United States President Barack Obama joined other
world leaders in Copenhagen. On Dec. 14, 2009, there was a standoff brewing between the
United States and China. At issue was China's refusal to accept international monitoring of its
expressed targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The United States argued that China's
opposition to verification could be a deal-breaker.
By the close of the summit, the difficult process eventually resulted in some consensus being
cultivated. A draft text called for $100 billion a year by 2020 to assist poor nations cope with
climate change, while aiming to limit global warming to two degrees Celsius compared with preindustrial levels. The deal also included specific targets for developed countries to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions, and called for reductions by developing countries as a share of their
economies. Also included in the agreement was a mechanism to verify compliance. The details of
the agreement were supported by President Barack Obama, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, Indian
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
This draft would stand as an interim agreement, with a legally-binding international pact unlikely to
materialize until 2010. In this way, the summit in Copenhagen failed to achieve its central
objective, which was to negotiate a successor to the Kyoto Protocol on greenhouse gas emissions.
Editor's Note
In the background of these developments was the growing global consciousness related to global
warming and climate change. Indeed, as the Copenhagen summit was ongoing, it was clear there
was enormous concurrence on the significance of the stakes with an editorial on the matter of
climate change being published in 56 newspapers in 45 countries. That editorial warned that
without global action, climate change would "ravage our planet." Meanwhile, a global survey taken
by Globescan showed that concern over global warming had exponentially increased from 1998 -when only 20 percent of respondents believed it to be a serious problem -- to 64 percent in 2009.
Such survey data, however, was generated ahead of the accusations by climate change skeptics
that some climate scientists may have overstated the case for global warming, based on emails
derived in an illicit manner from a British University.
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Special Entry: Climate change talks in Doha in Qatar extend life of Kyoto Protocol (2012)
December 2012 saw climate talks ensue in the Qatari city of Doha as representatives from
countries across the world gathered to discuss the fate of the Kyoto Protocol, which seeks to
minimize greenhouse gas emissions. The summit yielded results with decisions made (1) to extend
the Kyoto Protocol until 2020, and (2) for wealthier countries to compensate poorer countries for
the losses and damage incurred as a result of climate change.
In regards to the second matter, Malia Talakai of Nauru, a leading negotiator for the Alliance of
Small Island States, explained the necessity of the compensation package as follows: “We are trying
to say that if you pollute you must help us.”
This measure was being dubbed the "Loss and Damage" mechanism, and was being linked with
United States President Barack Obama's request for $60 billion from Congress to deal with the
devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy months before. The sight of a hurricane bearing down on
the northern Atlantic seaboard, along with the reality of the scope of reconstruction, appeared to
have illustrated the economic costs of climate change -- not so much as a distant environmental
issue -- but as a danger to the quotidian lives of people. Still, there was blame to be placed on the
United States and European countries -- some of world's largest emitters -- for failing to do more
to reduce emissions.
To that latter end, there was in fact little progress made on the central issue of reducing greenhouse
gas emissions. Had those emissions been reduced, there would have been less of a need to
financially deal with the devastation caused by climate change. One interpretation was that the
global community was accepting the fact that industrialization was contributing to global warming,
which had deleterious effects on the polar ice caps and concomitantly on the rise of sea level, with
devastating effects for small island nations. Thus, wealthier countries were willing to pay around
$10 billion a year through 2020, effectively in "damages," to the poor countries that could be
viewed as the "collateral damage" of industrial progress. But damages today could potentially be
destruction tomorrow, leaving in place the existential challenges and burdens to be born by some of
the world's smallest and least wealthy island countries.
Perhaps not surprisingly, the representative for the small island nation states at the Doha summit
responded with ire, characterizing the lack of progress on reducing emissions as follows: "We see
the package before us as deeply deficient in mitigation (carbon cuts) and finance. It's likely to lock
us on the trajectory to a 3,4,5C rise in global temperatures, even though we agreed to keep the
global average temperature rise of 1.5C to ensure survival of all islands. There is no new finance
(for adapting to climate change and getting clean energy) -- only promises that something might
materialize in the future. Those who are obstructive need to talk not about how their people will
live, but whether our people will live."
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Indeed, in most small island countries not just in the Pacific, but also the Caribbean and Indian
Ocean, ecological concerns and the climate crisis have been dominant themes with dire life and
death consequences looming in the background for their people. Small island nations in these
region are already at risk from the rise of sea-level, tropical cyclones, floods. But their very
livelihoods of fishing and subsistence farming were also at risk as a result of ecological and
environmental changes. Increasingly high storm surges can wipe out entire villages and contaminate
water supplies. Accordingly, the very existence of island nations, such as Kiribati and Tuvalu, are
at severe risk of being obliterated from the map. Yet even with the existential threat of being wiped
off the map in the offing, the international community has been either slow or restrictive in its
efforts to deal with global warming, climate change, economic and ecological damage, as well as
the emerging global challenge of environmental refugees.
A 2012 report from the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and the Pacific Regional
Environment Program underlined the concerns of small island nations and their people as it
concluded that the livelihoods of approximately 10 million people in Pacific island communities
were increasingly vulnerable to climate change. In fact, low-lying islands in that region would
likely confront losses of up to 18 percent of gross domestic product due to climate change,
according to the report. The report covers 21 countries and territories, including Fiji, Kiribati,
Samoa and Tonga, and recommended environmental legislation intended to deal with the climate
crisis facing the small island countries particularly. As noted by David Sheppard, the director
general of the Pacific Regional Environment Program that co-sponsored this study: “The findings...
emphasize the need more than ever to raise the bar through collective actions that address the
region's environmental needs at all levels."
Regardless of the failures of the summit in Qatar (discussed above), the meeting did facilitate a
process starting in 2015, which would bind both wealthy and poor countries together in the
mission of forging a new binding treaty that would replace the Kyoto Protocol and tackle the
central causes of climate change.
For more information on the threats faced in small island nations by climate change and the
measures being undertaken to lobby for international action, please see the Alliance for Small
Island States available online at the URL: http://aosis.org/
Special Report
COP 21 summit in Paris ends with historic agreement to tackle climate change; rare
international consensus formed on environmental crisis facing the planet (2015) -In mid-December 2015, the highly-anticipated United Nations climate conference of parties (COP)
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in Paris, France, ended with a historic agreement. In fact, it would very likely be understood as
the most significant international agreement signed by all the recognized countries of the world
since the Cold War. Accordingly, the Paris Agreement was being distinguished as the first
multilateral pact that would compel all countries across the world to cut its carbon emissions -- one
of the major causes of increasing greenhouse gas emissions, which contribute to global warming,
and its deleterious effects ranging from the dangerous rise in sea level to catastrophic climate
change.
The accord, which was dubbed to be the "Paris Agreement," was the work of rigorous diplomacy
and fervent environmental advocacy, and it aimed to address the climate change crisis facing the
planet. As many as 195 countries were represented in the negotiations that led to the landmark
climate deal. Indeed, it was only after weeks of passionate debate that international concurrence
was reached in addressing the environmental challenges confronting the world, with particular
attention to moving beyond fossil fuels and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The success of the COP 21 summit in Paris and the emergence of the landmark Paris Agreement
was, to some extent, attributed to the efforts of France's Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius who
presided over the negotiations. The French foreign minister's experience and credentials as a
seasoned diplomat and respected statesman paid dividends. He skillfully guided the delegates from
almost 200 countries and interest groups along the negotiations process, with ostensibly productive
results and a reasonably robust deal to show for it.
On Dec. 12, 2015, French Foreign Minister Fabius officially adopted the agreement, declaring: "I
now invite the COP to adopt the decision entitled Paris Agreement outlined in the document.
Looking out to the room I see that the reaction is positive, I see no objections. The Paris
agreement is adopted." Once Foreign Minister Fabius' gavel was struck, symbolically inaugurating
the Paris Agreement into force, the COP delegate rushed to their feet with loud and bouyant cheers
as well as thunderous applause.
In general, the Paris Agreement was being hailed as a victory for enviromental activists and a
triumph for international diplomats, while at the same time being understood as simply an initial -and imperfect -- move in the direction of a sustainable future. China's chief negotiator, Xie
Zhenhua, issued this message, saying that while the accord was not ideal, it should "not prevent
us from marching historical steps forward."
United States President Barack Obama lauded the deal as both "ambitious" and "historic," and the
work of strenuous multilateral negotiations as he declared, "Together, we've shown what's possible
when the world stands as one." The United States leader acknowledged that the accord was not
"perfect," but he reminded the critics that it was "the best chance to save the one planet we have. "
Former United States Vice President Al Gore, one of the world's most well known environmental
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advocates, issued a lengthy statement on the accompishments ensconced in the Paris Agreement.
He highlighted the fact that the Paris Agreement was a first step towards a future with a reduced
carbon footprint on Planet Earth as he said, "The components of this agreement -- including a
strong review mechanism to enhance existing commitments and a long-term goal to eliminate
global-warming pollution this century -- are essential to unlocking the necessary investments in our
future. No agreement is perfect, and this one must be strengthened over time, but groups across
every sector of society will now begin to reduce dangerous carbon pollution through the framework
of this agreement."
The central provisions of the Paris Agreement included the following items:
- Greenhouse gas emissions should peak as quickly as possible, with a move towards balancing
energy sources, and ultimately the decrease of greenhouse gases in the second half of this century
- Global temperature increase would be limited to 1.5 degrees Centigrade above pre-industrial
levels and would be held "well below" the two degrees Centigrade threshold
- Progress on these goals would be reviewed every five years beginning in 2020 with new
greenhouse gas reduction targets issued every five years
- $100 billion would be expended each year in climate finance for developing countries to move
forward with green technologies, with further climate financing to be advanced in the years beyond
It should be noted that there both legally binding and voluntary elements contained within the
Paris Agreement. Specifically, the submission of an emissions reduction target and the regular
review of that goal would be legally mandatory for all countries. Stated differently, there would be
a system in place by which experts would be able to track the carbon-cutting progress of each
country. At the same time, the specific targets to be set by countries would be determined at the
discretion of the countries, and would not be binding. While there was some criticism over this
non-binding element, the fact of the matter was that the imposition of emissions targets was
believed to be a major factor in the failure of climate change talks in Copenhagen, Denmark, in
2009.
In 2015, the talks faced challenges as several countries, such as China and India, objected to
conditions that would stymie economic and development. In order to avoid that kind of landmine,
a system Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) was developed and formed the
basis of the accord. As such, the Paris Agreement would, in fact, facilitate economic growth and
development, as well as technological progress, but with the goal of long-term ecological
sustainability based on low carbon sources. In fact, the agreement heralded as "the beginning of
the end of the fossil fuel era." As noted by Nick Mabey, the head of the climate diplomacy
organization E3G, said, "Paris means governments will go further and faster to tackle climate
change than ever before. The transition to a low carbon economy is now unstoppable, ensuring
the end of the fossil fuel age."
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A particular sticking point in the agreement was the $100 billion earmarked for climate financing
for developing countries to transition from traditional fossil fuels to green energy technologies and a
low carbon future. In 2014, a report by the International Energy Agency indicated that the cost of
that transition would actually be around $44 trillion by the mid-century -- an amount that would
render the $100 billion being promised to be a drop in the proverbial bucket. However, the general
expectation was that the Republican-controlled Senate in the United States, which would have to
ratify the deal in that country, was not interested in contributing significant funds for the cause of
climate change.
A key strength of the Paris Agreement was the ubiquitous application of measures to all countries.
Of note was the frequently utilized concept of "flexibility" with regard to the Paris Agreement.
Specifically, the varying capacities of the various countries in meeting their obligations would be
anticipated and accorded flexibility. This aspect presented something of a departure from the 1997
Kyoto Protocol, which drew a sharp distinction between developed and developing countries, and
mandated a different set of obligations for those categories of countries. Thus, under Kyoto,
China and India were not held to the same standards as the United States and European
countries. In the Paris Agreement, there would be commitments from all countries across the
globe.
Another notable strength of the Paris Agreement was the fact that the countries of the world were
finally able to reach consensus on the vital necessity to limit global temperature increases to 1.5
degrees Centrigrade. Ahead of the global consensus on the deal, and as controversy continued to
surface over the targeted global temperature limits, the leaders of island countries were sounding
the alarm about the melting of the Polar ice caps and the associated rise in seal level. Prime
Minister Enele Sopoaga of Tuvalu issued this dismal reminder: “Tuvalu’s future … is already
bleak and any further temperature increase will spell the total demise of Tuvalu. No leader in this
room carries such a level of worry and responsibility. Just imagine you are in my shoes, what
would you do?” It was thus something of a victory for environmental advocates that the countries
of the world could find cnsensus on the lower number -- 1.5 degrees rather than 2 degrees.
A significant weak point with regard to the Paris deal was a "loss and damage" provision, which
anticipates that even with all the new undertakings intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
and move to a low carbon future, there would nonetheless be unavoidable climate change
consequences. Those consequences ranged from the loss of arable land for farmers as well as soil
erosion and contamination of potable water by sea water, to the decimation of territory in coastal
zones and on small islands, due to the rise in sea level, with entire small island countries being
rendered entirely uninhabitable. The reality was that peoples' homes across the world would be
destroyed along with their way of life.
With that latter catastrophic effect being a clear and present danger for small island countries, the
Association of Small Island States (AOSIS) demanded that the developed world acknowledge its
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responsibility for this irreversible damage.. Despite the fact that greenhouse gas emissions and the
ensuing plague of global warming was, indeed, the consequence of development in the West (the
United States and Europe) and the large power house countries, such as Russia, China and India,
there was no appetite by those countries to sign on to unlimited liability. Under the Paris
Agreement, there was a call for research on insurance mechanisms that would address loss and
damage issues, with recommendations to come in the future.
The call for research was being regarded as an evasion of sorts and constituted the weakest aspect
of the Paris Agreement. Not surprisingly, a coalition of small island nations demanded a "Marshall
Plan" for the Pacific. Borrowing the term "Marshall Plan" from the post-World War II
reconstruction effort, the coalition of Pacific island nation, which included Kiribati, Tuvalu, Fiji,
and the Marshall Islands, called for an initiative that would include investment in renewable energy
and shoreline protection, cultural preservation, economic assistance for economies in transition,
and a plan for migration and resettlement for these countries as they confront the catastrophic
effects of the melting of the Polar ice caps and the concomitant rise in sea level. The precise
contours of the initiative remained unknown, unspecified, and a mere exercise in theory at the time
of writing. Yet such an initiative would, at some point, have to be addressed, given the realities of
climate change and the slow motion calamity unfolding each day for low-lying island nations across
the world.
As noted by Vice President Greg Stone of Conservation International, who also functions as an
adviser to the government of Kiribati, “Imagine living in a place where you know it’s going to go
away someday, but you don’t know what day that wave’s going to come over and wash your
home away." He added, “It’s a disaster we know is going to happen.” Meanwhile, the
intervening years promised to be filled with hardship for small island nations, such as Kiribati.
Stone explained, “For every inch of sea-level rise, these islands lose 10 feet of their freshwater
table to saltwater intrusion,” Stone explained. “So it’s not just about the day the water finally goes
over the island; it’s also about the day that there’s just not enough water left and everyone has to
move off the island.” Presaging the future for island nations that could face submersion, Stone
said, “If you look ahead 50 years, a country like Kiribati could become the first aqueous nation.
possibility of migration. That is, they own this big patch of ocean, and they administer it from
elsewhere.”
Foreign Minister Minister Tony Debrum of the Marshall Islands emerged as the champion
advocating on behalf of small island nation states and a loose coalition of concerned countries from
the Pacific to the Caribbean, but with support from the United States. He addressed the
comprehensive concerns of small island nations regarding the weaknesses of the deal, while
simultaneously making clear that the Paris Agreement signified hope for the countries most at risk.
In a formal statement, Debrum declared: "We have made history today. Emissions targets are still
way off track, but this agreement has the tools to ramp up ambition, and brings a spirit of hope that
we can rise to this challenge. I can go back home to my people and say we now have a pathway to
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survival.” Debrum highlighted the imperatives of Pacific island nations, saying, “Our High
Ambition Coalition was the lightning rod we needed to lift our sights and expectations for a strong
agreement here in Paris. We were joined by countries representing more than half the world. We
said loud and clear that a bare-bones, minimalist agreement would not fly. We instead demanded an
agreement to mark a turning point in history, and the beginning of our journey to the post-carbon
era.”
Debrum of the Marshall Islands espoused the quintessential synopsis of the accord and its effects
for those most likely to be affected by climate change as he noted, “Climate change won’t stop
overnight, and my country is not out of the firing line just yet, but today we all feel a little safer.”
Editor's Entry on Environmental Policy:
The low-lying Pacific island nations of the world, including Kiribati, Tuvalu, the Marshall Islands,
Fiji, among others, are vulnerable to the threats posed by global warming and cimate change,
derived from carbon emissions, and resulting in the rise in sea level. Other island nations in the
Caribbean, as well as poor countries with coastal zones, were also at particular risk of suffering the
deleterious effects of climate change.
Political policy in these countries are often connected to ecological issues, which have over time
morphed into an existential crisis of sorts. Indeed, ecological concerns and the climate crisis have
also been dominant themes with life and death consequences for the people of island nations in the
Pacific. Indeed, the very livelihoods of fishing and subsistence farming remain at risk as a result of
ecological and environmental changes. Yet even so, these countries are threatened by increasingly
high storm surges, which could wipe out entire villages and contaminate water supplies. Moreover,
because these are low lying island nations, the sustained rise in sea level can potentially lead to the
terrain of these countries being unihabitable at best, and submerged at worst. Stated in plain terms,
these countries are at severe risk of being obliterated from the map and their plight illuminates the
emerging global challenge of environmental refugees. In these manifold senses, climate change is
the existential crisis of the contemporary era.
Since the time of the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, there have been efforts aimed at extending the life of
that agreement, with an eye on minimizing greenhouse gas emissions, and thus minimizing the
effects of climate change. Those endeavors have largely ended in failure, as exemplified by the
unsuccessful Copenhagen talks in 2009 and the fruitless Doha talks in 2012 respectively. The
success of the COP 21 talks in France, with the adoption of the landmark Paris Agreement in
2015, was regarded as the first glimmer of hope. Not only did the Paris Agreement signify the
triumph of international diplomacy and global consensus, but it also marked the start of the end of
the fossil fuel era, with the path forward toward a low carbon future reliant on greener
technologies. Most crucially, the Paris Agreement stood as the first significant response in recent
times to the central challenge of climate change and its quotidian effects on the lives of real human
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beings across the world.
1. Major International Environmental Accords:
General Environmental Concerns
Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context, Espoo, 1991.
Accords Regarding Atmosphere
Annex 16, vol. II (Environmental Protection: Aircraft Engine Emissions) to the 1044 Chicago
Convention on International Civil Aviation, Montreal, 1981
Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP), Geneva, 1079
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), New York, 1002
Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer, Vienna, 1985 including the Montreal
Protocol on Substances that Depleted the Ozone Layer, Montreal, 1987
Accords Regarding Hazardous Substances
Convention on the Ban of the Import into Africa and the Control of Transboundary Movements
and Management of Hazardous Wastes within Africa, Bamako, 1991
Convention on Civil Liability for Damage Caused during Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road,
Rail and Inland Navigation Vessels (CRTD), Geneva, 1989
Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal
(Basel Convention), Basel, 1989
Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents, Helsinki, 1992
Convention to Ban the Importation into Forum Island Countries of Hazardous and Radioactive
Wastes and to Control the Transboundary Movement and Management of Hazardous Wastes
within the South Pacific Region (Waigani Convention), Waigani, 1995
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European Agreement Concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR),
Geneva 1957
FAO International Code of Conduct on the Distribution and Use of Pesticides, Rome, 1985
2. Major International Marine Accords:
Global Conventions
Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter
(London Convention 1972), London, 1972
International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by
Protocol of 1978 relation thereto (MARPOL 73/78), London, 1973 and 1978
International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage 1969 (1969 CLC), Brussels,
1969, 1976, and 1984
International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil
Pollution Damage 1971 (1971 Fund Convention), Brussels, 1971
Convention on Liability and Compensation for Damage in Connection with the Carriage of
Hazardous and Noxious Substances by Sea (HNS), London 1996
International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response, and Co-operation (OPRC),
London, 1990
International Convention Relation to Intervention on the High Seas in Cases of Oil Pollution
Casualties (Intervention Convention), Brussels, 1969
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), Montego Bay, 1982
Regional Conventions
Convention for the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping from Ships and Aircraft (Oslo
Convention), Oslo, 1972
Convention for the Prevention of Marine Pollution from Land-based Sources (Paris Convention),
Paris, 1974
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Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North East Atlantic (OSPAR
Convention), Paris, 1992
Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area (1974 Helsinki
Convention), Helsinki 1974
Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area (1992 Helsinki
Convention), Helsinki 1992
Conventions within the UNEP Regional Seas Programme
Convention on the Protection of the Black Sea against Pollution, Bucharest, 1992
Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider
Caribbean Region, Cartagena de Indias, 1983
Convention for the Protection, Management, and Development of the Marine and Coastal
Environment of the Eastern African Region, Nairobi, 1985
Kuwait Regional Convention for Co-operation on the Protection of the Marine Environment from
Pollution, Kuwait, 1978
Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment and Coastal Region of
the Mediterranean Sea (Barcelona Convention), Barcelona, 1976
Regional Convention for the Conservation of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Environment, Jeddah,
1982
Convention for the Protection of the Natural Resources and Environment of the South Pacific
Region, Noumea, 1986
Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment and Coastal Area of the South-East
Pacific, Lima, 1981
Convention for Co-operation in the Protection and Development of the Marine and Coastal
Environment of the West and Central African Region, Abidjan, 1981
3. Major Conventions Regarding Living Resources:
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Marine Living Resources
Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), Canberra,
1980
International Convention for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), Rio de Janeiro, 1966
International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling (ICRW), Washington, 1946
Nature Conservation and Terrestrial Living Resources
Antarctic Treaty, Washington, D.C., 1959
Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (World Heritage
Convention), Paris, 1972
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), Nairobi, 1992
Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), Bonn, 1979
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES),
Washington, D.C., 1973
Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat (Ramsar
Convention), Ramsar, 1971
Convention to Combat Desertification (CCD), Paris 1994
FAO International Undertaking on Plant Genetic Resources, Rome, 1983
International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1994 (ITTA, 1994), Geneva, 1994
Freshwater Resources
Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes,
Helsinki, 1992
4. Major Conventions Regarding Nuclear Safety:
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Convention on Assistance in the Case of a Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency
(Assistance Convention), Vienna, 1986
Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident (Notification Convention), Vienna, 1986
Convention on Nuclear Safety, Vienna, 1994
Vienna Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage, Vienna, 1963
5. Major Intergovernmental Organizations
Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD)
European Union (EU): Environment
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
Global Environment Facility (GEF)
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES)
International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
International Labour Organization (ILO)
International Maritime Organization (IMO)
International Monetary Fund (IMF)
International Oil Pollution Compensation Funds (IOPC Funds)
Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Environment Policy
Committee (EPOC)
United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
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United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
World Bank
World Food Programme (WFP)
World Health Organization (WHO)
World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
World Trade Organization (WTO)
6. Major Non-Governmental Organizations
Atmosphere Action Network East Asia (AANEA)
Climate Action Network (CAN)
Consumers International (CI)
Earth Council
Earthwatch Institute
Environmental Liaison Centre International (ELCI)
European Environmental Bureau (EEB)
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)
Friends of the Earth International (FoEI)
Greenpeace International
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International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)
International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU)
International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF)
International Solar Energy Society (ISES)
IUCN-The World Conservation Union
Pesticide Action Network (PAN)
Sierra Club
Society for International Development (SID)
Third World Network (TWN)
Water Environment Federation (WEF)
Women's Environment and Development Organization (WEDO)
World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)
World Federalist Movement (WFM)
World Resources Institute (WRI)
World Wide Fund For Nature (WWF)
7. Other Networking Instruments
Arab Network for Environment and Development (RAED)
Global Legislators for a Balanced Environment (GLOBE)
Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe (REC)
United Nations Non-Governmental Liaison Service (UN-NGLS)
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Appendices
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Bibliography
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Sources: Key Data
Altapedia. URL: http://www.atlapedia.com/online/country_index.htm
Ethnologue. URL: http://www.ethnologue.com
Geobase Global Statistics. URL: http://www.geoba.se
Infoplease: URL: http://www.infoplease.com
The Statesman's Year Book 2006. Barry Turner, ed. London: St. Martin's Press.
United States D e p a r t m e n t o f S t a t e , B a c k g r o u n d N o t e s . U R L :
http://www.state.gov/www/background_notes/index.htm
United States Central Intelligence Agency, World Factbook. Washington, D.C.: Printing and
Photography Group. URL: http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/index.html
World Bank. URL: http://www.worldbank.org/
World Climate Data Online. URL: http://www.worldclimate.com
Methodology Note for Demographic Data:
The demographic numbers for cities and national populations listed in CountryWatch content are
derived from the Geoba.se website, which analyzes data from the World Bank. The current
demographic numbers displayed on the Countrywatch website are reflective of the latest available
estimates.
The demographic information for language, ethnicity and religion listed in CountryWatch content is
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derived from a mix of sources including the Altapedia, Central Intelligence Agency Factbook,
Infoplease, and State Department Background Notes.
Sources: Political Overview
Agence France Presse. URL: http://www.afp.com/en/
BBC International News. URL: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/ (Various editions and dates as
cited in particular reviews)
Britannica Book of the Year. 1998-present. David Calhoun, ed. Chicago: Encyclopedia Britannica,
Inc.
Britannica Online URL :http://www.eb.com
Britannica Year in Review. URL: http://www.britannica.com/browse/year
Chiefs of State and Cabinet Members of Foreign Governments. URL:
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/chiefs/index.html
Christian Science Monitor. URL: http://www.csmonitor.com/ (Various editions and dates as cited
in particular reviews)
CNN International News. URL:http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/ (Various editions and dates as cited
in particular reviews)
Current Leaders of Nations. 1997. Jennifer Mossman, ed. Detroit: Gale Research
The Economist Magazine. (Various editions and dates as cited in particular reviews)
The Economist Country Briefings. URL: http://www.economist.com/countries/
Eldis Country Profiles. URL: http://www.eldis.org/country/index.htm
Elections Around the World. URL: http://www.electionworld.org/
Election Resources. URL: http://electionresources.org/
Europa World Yearbook 1999. Vols. I & II. 1999. London: Europa Publications Ltd.
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Europe World Online. URL: http://www.europaworld.com/pub/
Financial Times. URL: http://www.financialtimes.com
Foreign Government Resources. URL: http://www.lib.umich.edu/govdocs/foreign.html
Human Rights Watch. URL: http://www.hrw.org
IFES Election Guide. URL: http://www.electionguide.org
International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance. URL: http://www.idea.int/
International Who's Who 1997-1998, 61st Edition. 1997. London: Europa Publications Ltd.
L e a d e r s h i p V i e w s , C h i e f s o f
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/chiefs/index.html
S t a t e
O n l i n e .
U R L
:
Library of Congress Country Studies. URL: http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/cshome.html
New Encyclopedia Britannica. 1998. Chicago: Encyclopedia Britannica Inc.
New York Times. URL: http://www.nytimes.com (Various editions and dates as cited in
particular reviews)
Patterns of Global Terrorism. n.d. United States Department of State. Washington D.C.: United
States Department of State Publications.
Political Handbook of the World. n.d. Arthur S. Banks, Thomas C. Muller, ed. Binghamton, New
York: CSA Publications.
Political Reference Almanac Online. URL: http://www.polisci.com/almanac/nations.htm
Reuters News. URL: http://www.reuters.com/
Rulers. URL: http://rulers.org/
The Guardian Online. URL: http://www.guardian.co.uk/
particular reviews)
(Various editions and dates as cited in
The Statesman's Year-Book 2006. Barry Turner, ed. London: St. Martin's Press.
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United Nations Development Programme. URL: http://hdr.undp.org
United Nations Refugee Agency. URL: http://www.unhcr.org
United States Central Intelligence Agency, World Factbook.Washington, D.C.: Printing and
United States Department of State, World Military Expenditures and Arms Transfers (WMEAT)
URL : http://www.state.gov/www/global/arms/bureau_ac/reports_ac.html
United States Department of State, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. URL:
http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2002/18245.htm
http://www.state.gov/www/background_notes/index.html
Virtual Library: International Relations Resources. URL: http://www.etown.edu/vl/countgen.html
World Bank: Governance Indicators. URL: http://info.worldbank.org/governance
-- See also list of News Wires services below, which are also used for research purposes. -Note on Edition Dates:
The earlier edition dates are noted above because they were used to formulate the original Country
Reviews and serve as the baseline for some of the information covered. Later editions have been
used in some cases, and are cited as such, while other more recent online resources (cited above)
contain recent and ever-updated data sets used for research.
Sources: Economic Overview
BP Statistical Review of World Energy. URL: http://www.bp.com/genericsection.do?
categoryId=92&contentId=7005893
BP Statistical Review of World Energy, June 1998. 1998 to present. Page 1.C. London: The
British Petroleum Company.
International Monetary Fund, Direction of Trade Statistics Yearbook. Washington, D.C.:
International Monetary Fund Publication Services.
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International Monetary Fund, International Financial Statistics. 1998 to present. Washington,
D.C.: International Monetary Fund Publication Services.
International Monetary Fund, International Financial Statistics Yearbook. 1999 to present.
Washington, D.C.: International Monetary Fund Publication Services.
International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook, May 1999. 1999 to present. Washington,
D.C.: International Monetary Fund Publication Services.
International Labour Office, World Employment Report, 1998-99. 1998 to present. Geneva:
International Labour Office.
United Nations Statistical Division Online. URL: http://unstats.un.org/unsd/default.htm
United Nations Statistics Division, Monthly Bulletin of Statistics (MBS On Line), November 1999
Edition. 1999 to present. New York: United Nations.
United Nations, Statistical Yearbook, 43rd Issue. 1999. 1999 to present New York: United Nations.
United Nations, Food & Agricultural Organization, FAOSTAT Database. URL : http://apps.fao.org/
United Nations, Comtrade Data Base, http://comtrade.un.org/
United States Department of Energy, Country Analysis Briefs.
URL:http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/contents.html
United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics Database
United States Geological Service, Mineral Information
United States Department of State, Country Commercial Guides. Washington, D.C. United States
of America. URL:http://www.state.gov/www/about_state/business/com_guides/index.html
The World Bank, Global Development Finance, Country Tables. 1999 to present. Washington,
D.C.: The World Bank.
The World Bank Group, World Development Indicators. 1999 to present. Washington, D.C.: The
World Bank.
Yearbook of Tourism Statistics, World Tourism Organization. 1998 to present. Madrid: The World
Tourism Organization.
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The earlier edition dates are noted above because they were used to formulate the original country
reviews and serve as the baseline for some of the information covered. Later editions have been
Methodology Notes for Economic Data:
Estimates by CountryWatch.com of GDP in dollars in most countries are made by converting local
currency GDP data from the International Monetary Fund World Economic Outlook to US dollars
by market exchange rates estimated from the International Monetary Fund International Financial
Statistics and projected out by the CountryWatch Macroeconomic Forecast. Real GDP was
estimated by deflating current dollar values by the US GDP Implicit Price Deflator.
Exceptions to this method were used for:
• Bosnia-Herzegovina
• Nauru
• Cuba
• Palau
• Holy See
• San Marino
• Korea, North
• Serbia & Montenegro
• Liberia
• Somalia
• Liechtenstein
• Tonga
• Monaco
• Tuvalu
In these cases, other data and/or estimates by CountryWatch.com were utilized.
Investment Overview
C o r r u p t i o n a n d T r a n s p a r e n c y
http://www.transparency.org/documents/cpi/2001/cpi2001.html#cpi
<http://www.transparency.org/documents/
I n d e x .
U R L :
Deloitte Tax Guides. URL: http://www.deloittetaxguides.com
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Trade Policy Reviews by the World Trade Organization .
http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tpr_e/tp_rep_e.htm#bycountry
URL:
United States Department of Energy, Country Analysis Briefs. URL:
http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/contents.html
United States Department of State, Country Commercial Guides. 1996-2006. Washington, D.C.
U n i t e d S t a t e s
o f
A m e r i c a .
U R L :
http://www.state.gov/www/about_state/business/com_guides/index.html
World Bank: Doing Business. URL: http://www.doingbusiness.org
World Bank: Governance Indicators. URL: http://info.worldbank.org/governance
Social Overview
Borden, G.A., Conaway, W.A., Morrison, T. 1994. Kiss, Bow, or Shake Hands: How to do
Business in Sixty Countries. Holbrook, Massachusetts, 1994.
Center for Disease Control. URL: http://www.cdc.gov
Eldis Country Profiles. URL: http://www.eldis.org/country/index.htm
Ethnologue. URL: http://www.ethnologue.com/
Government of Australia D e p a r t m e n t o f F o r e i g n A f f i a r s a n d T r a d e . U R L :
http://www.dfat.gov.au/geo
Government of
Canada F o r e i g n A f f a i r s a n d I n t e r n a t i o n a l T r a d e . U R L :
http://www.voyage.gc.ca/consular_home-e.htm
Library of Congress Country Studies. URL: http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/cshome.html
Lonely Planet. URL: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/
Steve Kropla's Online Help For World Travelers. URL: http://www.kropla.com/
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United Kingdom Ministry of Foreign and Commonwealth Office. URL: http://www.fco.gov.uk/
United Nations Human Development Report. URL: http://www.undp.org/hdro
UNICEF Statistical Database Online. URL: http://www.unicef.org/statis/atoz.html
United States Central Intelligence Agency, World Factbook. 2001. Washington, D.C.: Printing and
United States Department of State, Background Notes. URL:
United States Department of State, Commercial and Business Affairs: Travel Tips. URL:
http://www.state.gov/www/about_state/business/cba_travel.html
United States Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs. URL: http://travel.state.gov/
World Health Organization. URL: http://www.who.int/home-page/
World News Connection, National Technical Information Service. Springfield, Virginia, USA.
Internet News Service, Xinhua News Agency (U.S.) Inc. Woodside, New York. URL:
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/
Methodology Notes for the HDI:
Since 1990, the United Nations Development Programme, in concert with organizations across the
globe, has produced the Human Development Index (or HDI). According to the UNDP, the index
measures average achievement in basic human development in one simple composite index, and
produces from this index a ranking of countries. The HDI is a composite of three basic
components of human development: longevity, knowledge and standard of living. Longevity is
measured by life expectancy. Knowledge is measured by combination of adult literacy and mean
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years of schooling. Standard of living is measured by purchasing power, based on real GDP per
capita (in constant US$) adjusted for differences in international living costs (or, purchasing power
parity, PPP). While the index uses these social indicators to measure national performance with
regard to human welfare and development, not all countries provide the same level of information
for each component needed to compute the index; therefore, as in any composite indicator, the
final index is predicated on projections, predictions and weighting schemes. The index is a static
measure, and thus, an incomplete measure of human welfare. In fact, the UNDP says itself the
concept of human development focuses on the ends rather than the means of development and
progress, examining in this manner, the average condition of all people in a given country.
Specifically, the index is calculated by determining the maximum and minimum for each of the
three components (as listed above) and then measuring where each country stands in relation to
these scales-expressed as a value between 0 and 1. For example, the minimum adult literary rate is
zero percent, the maximum is 100 percent, and the reading skills component of knowledge in the
HDI for a country where the literacy rate is 75 percent would be 0.75. The scores of all indicators
are then averaged into the overall index.
For a more extensive examination of human development, as well as the ranking tables for each
participating country, please visit: http://www.undp.org
Note on History sections
In some CountryWatch Country Reviews, open source content from the State Department
Background Notes and Country Guides have been used.
Environmental Profiles: A Global Guide to Projects and People. 1993. Linda Sobel Katz, Sarah
Orrick, and Robert Honig. New York: Garland Publishing.
The Environment Encyclopedia and Directory, 2nd Edition. 1998. London: Europa.
Environmental Protection Agency Global Warming Site. URL: http://www.epa.gov/globalwarming
Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations: Forestry. URL:
http://www.fao.org/forestry/site/sofo/en/
Global Warming Information Page. URL: http://globalwarming.org
Introduction to Global Environmental Issues, 2nd Edition. 1997. Kevin Pickering and Lewis Owen.
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London: Routledge.
Trends: Compendium of Data on Global Change.
http://cdiac.esd.ornl.gov/trends/emis/em_cont.htm
U n i t e d N a t i o n s E n v i r o n m e n t a l
http://www.unep.org/GEO/GEO_Products/Assessment_Reports/
P r o g r a m .
URL:
U R L :
United Nations Global Environmental Outlook. URL: http://www.unep.org/geo/geo4/media/
United States Department of Energy, Country Analysis Briefs. URL:
http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/contents.html
World Climate Data Online. URL: http://www.worldclimate.com
World Directory of Country Environmental Studies. 1996. The World Resource Institute.
World Factbook. US Central Intelligence Agency. Washington, D.C.: Printing and Photography
Group.
1998-1999 World Resources Guide to the Global Environment by the World Resources Institute.
May, 1998.
1998/1999 Yearbook of International Cooperation on Environment and Development. 1998.
London: Earthscan Publications.
Other Sources:
General information has also been used in the compilation of this review, with the courtesy of
governmental agencies from this country.
News Services:
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CANA Daily Bulletin. Caribbean Media Agency Ltd., St. Michael, Barbados.
Central and Eastern Africa Report, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian
Affairs - Integrated Regional Information Network for Central and Eastern Africa.
Daily News, Panafrican News Agency. Dakar, Senegal.
PACNEWS, Pacific Islands Broadcasting Association. Suva, Fiji.
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Washington D.C. USA.
Reuters News. Thomson Reuters. New York, New York. USA.
Southern Africa Report, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Integrated Regional Information Network for Southern Africa.
Voice of America, English Service. Washington D.C.
West Africa Report, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Integrated Regional Information Network for West Africa. 1998-1999
Note: Some or all these news services have been used to research various sections of this Country
Review.
USING COUNTRYWATCH.COM AS AN ELECTRONIC SOURCE:
MLA STYLE OF CITATION
Commentary
For items in a "Works Cited" list, CountryWatch.com suggests that users follow recommended
patterns forindentation given in the MLA Handbook, 4th edition.
Individual Works
Basic form, using an Internet protocol:
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Author/editor. Title of Print Version of Work. Edition statement (if given). Publication information
(Place of publication: publisher, date), if given. Title of Electronic Work. Medium. Available
Protocol (if applicable):Site/Path/File. Access date.
Examples:
Youngblood-Coleman, Denise. Country Review: France. 2003. Houston, Texas: CountryWatch
Publications, 2003.
C o u n t r y R e v i e w : F r a n c e. O n l i n e . A v a i l a b l e U R L :
http://www.countrywatch.com/cw_country.asp?vCOUNTRY=61 October, 12, 2003.
Note:
This is the citation format used when the print version is not used in the reference.
Parts of Works
Basic form, using an Internet protocol:
Author/editor. "Part title." Title of Print Version of Work. Edition statement (if given). Publication
information (Place of publication: publisher, date), if given. Title of Electronic Work. Medium.
AvailableProtocol (if applicable): Site/Path/File. Access date.
Examples:
Youngblood-Coleman, Denise. "People." CountryWatch.com: France. 2003. Houston, Texas:
CountryWatch Publications, 2003. CountryWatch.com: France. Online. Available URL :
http://www.countrywatch.com/cw_topic.asp?
vCOUNTRY=61&SECTION=SOCIAL&TOPIC=CLPEO&TYPE=TEXT. October 12, 2003.
Note:
This is the citation format used when the print version is not used in the reference.
For further source citation information, please email: [email protected] or
[email protected].
Somalia Review 2016
CountryWatch
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The management of CountryWatch has extensive international experience and has utilized this experience to
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